V.R. 76 ; a French military hospital

I

FRE

:&ROLD J. RECKIT1

4

V.R. 76

A FRENCH MILITARY HOSPITAL

V.R. 76

A FRENCH MILITARY HOSPITAL

BY

HAROLD J. RECKITT

A History of the Fondation Johnstone-Reckitt
Arranged and Edited

by
Margaret Storrs Turner

ONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

London : William Heinemann, 19S1

TO

MY WIFE,

WHO INSPIRED ME TO THIS SERVICE,
WHOSE UNDERSTANDING AND APT CRITICISM

MADE POSSIBLE
THE SUCCESS OF OUR HOSPITAL

Little Green,
January 1921.

DEAR MR. RECKITT,

When you put the material for this book into my hands,
you left me great freedom in the matter of editing it. You your-
self, you averred, were no penman, and the contributors with one
voice refused to contribute till you had exercised all your powers
of persuasion. You, who made Ris Hospital, all appeared to
think that any one was better qualified than yourselves to write
its history.

As I read the manuscript, I soon decided to confine my
editorial duties to arranging the narrative in chapters and cut-
ting out repetitions. When one writes about a war hospital it
seems to me that simplicity and candour are the essentials, and
these I found in the sheets you gave me as well as in the papers
collected from many sources.

We have Ris and its work presented here from many points
of view. We see it through the eyes of the matron, hiding the
tender heart of a mother behind the cool dignity of her office;
the scientist, to whom the horrors of the operating-room mean
precious opportunity; of the man of affairs and the man who
thinks in terms of gears and cylinders; of Martha, gay amidst
her much serving in kitchen and linen-room, and Mary crying at
night over the stumps of a poor little mutiU in the dimly lit ward.

The purpose of your book is to recall and perpetuate for your
fellow-workers, inside the hospital and out, the memory of three
years of service for the wounded soldiers of France.

In offering the story to a wider public, you court the criticism
of strangers, but the strangers who came to Ris between 1915
and 1918, from west, east, north and south, always left as friends,
and I think that your unknown readers will, as they turn the
pages of " V.R. 76," become your friends too.

Sincerely yours,

MARGARET STORRS TURNER.
February, 1921.

Vll

CONTENTS

PART I
THE STORY OF RIS HOSPITAL

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE PROJECT 3

II. MAKING THE HOSPITAL ..... 10

III. PERSONNEL: OUR ORIGINAL STAFF ... 17

IV. IN FULL SWING 26

V. JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON ..... 38

VI. ENEMIES WITHIN OUR GATES .... 54

VII. AMERICA COMES IN : COLONEL KELLER AS MEDECIN-

CHEF 63

VIII. THE LAST PHASE UNDER MAJOR PENHALLOW . 72

IX. OUR PATIENTS 81

X. THE IMMORTAL DEAD ...... 90

XI. OUR NEIGHBOURS 95

XII. GOOD-BYE TO RIS 100

XIII. FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS . . 107

XIV. THE MOVE TO JUILLY .121

PART II
A HOSPITAL GARLAND

THE MATRON'S MEMORIES , 135

SOME MOVING PICTURES ....... 141

THE BLACK ROOM ........ 148

2k

x CONTENTS

PAGE

PASSAGES FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE ASSISTANT RADIO-
GRAPHER ......... 156

SAUCEPANS AND SOFT DRINKS 164

WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS 169

THE BRAISNE CANTEEN ....... 177

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE 182

MARKETING ......... 192

"THE HOWL" 195

PILLS .... .205

A NURSE TO HER DIARY ....... 207

WEAL AND WOE IN THE LINEN-ROOM .... 218

OUT-PATIENTS ......... 224

A RECOLLECTION ...... . 228

THE NIGHT SHIFT 234

A FRAGMENT 239

PART III

QUELQUES SILHOUETTES . . 248

APPENDIX 260

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Pacing page
H6PITAL MlLITAIRE V.R. 76 . . . . Frontispiece

THE HOSPITAL — SOUTH FRONT ..... 10

THE OPERATING THEATRE AND THE ANAESTHETIC ROOM . 14

NURSING STAFF, 1916, WITH LADY JOHNSTONE AND LADY

CONGREVE; Miss ROBERTSON, MATRON ... 17

DR. BLAKE WITH HIS ORIGINAL MEDICAL STAFF . . 20

SALLE A, ON THE GROUND FLOOR ..... 26
SALLE O, ON THE THIRD FLOOR . . . . .28

THE GATE HOUSE 30

THE HOSPITAL PERSONNEL, 1916 34

SALLE C, WITH BALKAN FRAMES IN USE FOR THE TREAT-
MENT OF FRACTURES ...... 36

JOSEPH A. BLAKE, M.D., OF NEW YORK . 38

SUSPENSION AND EXTENSION AS APPLIED TO A FRACTURE

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THIGH ..... 40

SUSPENSION AND EXTENSION WITH A MODIFIED SPLINT AS

APPLIED TO A FRACTURE HIGH UP IN THE THIGH . 42

A SPECIAL SPLINT DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A

CASE PRESENTING PECULIAR FEATURES ... 44

PREPARING FOR AN OPERATION BY DR. BLAKE . . 46

OUR CHIEF— 1915-1917 50

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. L. KELLER, MEDECIN-CHEF . 63

A DECORATION. M. GOD ART PRESENTS MEDALS TO THE STAFF 66

M. JUSTIN GODART READS THE CITATIONS ... 68

POST-GRADUATE VISITORS TO COLONEL KELLER'S CLINIC . 70

TENT HOSPITAL IN THE GROUNDS, AFTERWARDS USED IN

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC AT GRIGNY CAMP . . 74

xi

xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Facing page

" ADMINISTRATEUR-G£NERAL " . . . . . . 107

THE NURSING STAFF, 1918; MRS. CLAPP, MATRON . . 117

MAJOR FARMER AND MEMBERS OF THE JUILLY HOSPITAL

STAFF 122

Miss CHRISTINA ROBERTSON, INFIRMIERE-MAJOR . . 135

OUR Ris NEIGHBOURS — A WORKING-PARTY IN THE BANDAGE-
ROOM ......... 144

THE X-RAY ROOM 150

RADIOGRAPHS OF SPECIAL CASES (1-7) . . . 155-156

" PETIT REGIME," IRREVERENTLY CALLED "THE SOFT-
DRINK BAR" . . ... 166

THE FIRST OFFICIAL INSPECTION OF AMBULANCES, 1915 . 169
ARRIVAL OF A HOSPITAL TRAIN AT VILLENEUVE ST. GEORGES 170

CARRYING A BLESSE" TO THE AMBULANCE . . .172

THE AMBULANCE STARTING FOR THE HOSPITAL . .174

SITTING CASES BOUND FOR Ris ... . 176

LA SALLE DE PANSEMENTS . . 224

"UN BAIN COMPLET" 236

PART I

THE STORY

OF
RIS HOSPITAL

In order to facilitate other Subscribers getting
this Book without undue delay, it is respectfully
requested that it may be returned to the Library as
soon as read.

CHAPTER I

THE PROJECT

IT is always difficult to trace the impulse that carries one
to a decision. The outbreak of war in 1914 gave me, when
the first shock of surprise had passed, the feeling of being
lost in a great forest, unable to find a pathway.

I had been brought up as a Quaker, but there was never
any doubt in my mind as to the righteousness of the
cause for which my country was fighting. The doubt and
hesitation were as to the direction in which the path of
duty lay.

For the young men the road was clearly marked. At the
first village recruiting meeting I took the chair and saw the
lads and young men from Little Green and Compton get up
from their seats shyly and awkwardly when the call for men
was made and come forward to give their names as volunteers
for military service. After that appeal to others to go,
after the fine response to the call, remained the reflection
that if one was too old for the army, somehow, somewhere,
one might offer personal service. We had no son to send,
but we were well off and we could give; giving without
working, however, seemed to my wife and myself an empty
thing — we had to find out what we could do ourselves.

I think it was at this village gathering that the first idea
of a hospital came to us — a personally organised hospital
in which we should work ourselves, helped by men too
old for army service, from the village in which we lived.
Perhaps this local beginning inspired the family feeling which
persisted during the existence of Ris Hospital and prevented
it from being an institution. Certainly no tribute could please
its founders more than the repeated assurance, " It was such
a happy home."

Our first intimation that we, in our quiet corner of Sussex,
were involved in the war came in the guise of a forlorn little
band of American women, travel-worn, exhausted, shaken
completely out of their native self-possession by the sudden-
ness of the catastrophe and the misery of their long-drawn-out

4 ,;>.;. . .. •'-. V.R. 76

journey from Paris in one of the last trains which left the
threatened city. They came at the beginning of September
1914 from the American Art Students' Club in the Latin
Quarter in response to a wire sent a few days before by my
wife, to Mrs. Shield, the head of the club, inviting her to send
to us any students who might be stranded in Europe.

They were indeed refugees. Their property was reduced
to what they had been able to carry in their hands from the
club-house to the Gare du Nord. One of them, in the excite-
ment of the hurried departure, had packed the bulk of her
personal belongings in the green baize cover of the parrot's
cage. Their letters of credit from America on Paris could
not be cashed and, until things became more normal, they
were entirely dependent upon their friends. Their first
days were spent mostly in bed, recovering from the very
trying experiences of their journey.

It was at the suggestion of these ladies that a refugees'
concert was given. The concert was a great success and laid
the foundation of a small Red Cross centre in the village,
which continued its work throughout the war, and never was
there an appeal from the hospital at Ris or from Mrs. Reckitt's
canteen, for shirts, socks or handkerchiefs, that was not at
once met by this small village society. Nearly every child
in the schools became an indefatigable knitter and the quality
of the work was always excellent. A fact worth adding is
that they were the only society that ever sent socks to us
ready washed.

Mrs. Morris was the efficient Secretary of the Compton
Red Cross Society, and had the support and help of Mrs.
Sanderson, Mrs. Langdale, the Misses Langdale and every
woman in the parish who had a son, or a husband at the
front, and in Compton we take a great pride in the fact that
every unmarried man, as well as every married man under
thirty -five years of age, joined up before the Derby scheme.

The early summer of 1915 dragged slowly on with no decision
as to the future of our hospital movements. It was during
these hot months that the lawn behind the house at Little
Green was dotted with working-parties, some making hand-
kerchiefs and others the bags of horizon blue for the soldiers'
personal belongings, to hang by the side of the beds and give
a touch of colour to the wards. How well these workers
toiled can be now put on record, for those bags survived to
the last days of the hospital.

Slowly during these months the scheme made progress and
took shape. I communicated with Dr. Lewis A. Conner of

\

•

THE PROJECT 5

New York, Professor of Medicine at Cornell University, as
to the possibility of getting together a hospital staff in
New York. He replied that he had offers of service from
Dr. Foster Kennedy, a young Irishman of brilliant reputa-
tion as a physician. Dr. Kennedy was ready to give six
months' work without pay, and his wife, who had made a
study of domestic economy, was anxious to come with him
if she could help as cook, storekeeper, or in any other capacity.

Dr. Conner was also making arrangements with the
American Red Cross and other authorities and getting to-
gether medical and surgical supplies, but all progress was
hampered by uncertainty as to the character and destination
of the projected hospital.

Italy was thought of, as we believed that country was bound
to leave the Triple Alliance and throw in her lot with France
and England, but surgeons were unwilling to bind themselves
to go to Italy when it was not certain that she would enter
the war. There was an idea too that Italy might start
a campaign in Serbia, and American doctors did not relish
the prospect of being side-tracked somewhere in the Balkans
with only typhus and cholera cases to treat.

During the month of April 1915 we made constant inquiries
at the Italian Embassy to find out if we could be told some-
thing or given even a hint as to the future. Not unnaturally
no such information was given us. A friend of mine, Mr.
Serena, an Englishman of Italian ancestry, offered to despatch
to Italy our whole hospital equipment should we eventually
go there.

Meanwhile, Dr. Foster Kennedy, who had been appointed
Commandant and executive head of the unit in process of
formation, arrived in England to find everything in a state
of irksome uncertainty. How little he or I knew that our
patience was to be strained almost to breaking-point and
that we had still several months to wait before we should
even see the building which was to be our habitat. The
hospital was offered to Belgium; acceptance seemed likely
and hope ran high that we should soon be at work, but
disappointment was the end of that project.

In June Dr. Kennedy went over to France and got into
touch with the French general commanding near Dunkirk,
with a view to our placing there a fifty-bed mobile tent
hospital. The general, with the politeness always found
among French officials, looked upon it favourably. Our
hopes soared, but, as the weeks went by and no particular
locality was named or date fixed, we felt that our problem

6 V.R. 76

was still unsolved. Dr. Foster Kennedy went again to
northern France and visited La Panne, the hospital under
the management of the distinguished Belgian, Dr. du Page,
whose devoted wife lost her life in the sinking of the Lusitania
on returning from a visit to America where she had been
collecting funds for the Belgian wounded. We found that
should we join this hospital our identity would be lost and
that we should become only a part of a larger unit. What
a long way we all had yet to go to discover that the identity
of a unit or the importance of the hospital to which we might
be attached or the special service for which we thought we
were most fit, were all of absolutely no account compared
to the work itself which we were eventually to undertake.

On Dr. Foster Kennedy's return from this visit to northern
France it looked as if our hospital project would never be
carried out. We found that a small unit of fifty beds was
not wanted, that those in charge of hospitals, whether in
England or in France, had realised that such a unit was un-
economical to work and difficult to control, that the military
necessity of never losing sight of a soldier was made more
difficult when the men were scattered in a number of small
hospitals rather than gathered together in large organisations.
It was at this juncture that a brilliant idea suddenly struck
Dr. Foster Kennedy : "I wonder if Lady Johnstone is being
any more successful than we are ? " he said. " I will go and
see her."

Lady Johnstone, the wife of Sir Alan Johnstone, the
British Minister at the Hague, was, he knew, anxious to place
a tent hospital of fifty beds at the disposal of the British
or French army authorities.

It was found that her scheme had been no more successful
than ours. Within a few days Dr. Kennedy brought Lady
Johnstone and myself together and the foundation was laid
of a partnership which lasted for more than three years.
We both felt that the time for small hospitals had passed,
and that by putting our resources into one pool we should be
in a position to make a more substantial and practicable
offer, to either the English or French military authorities,
than we had been able to do separately.

Lady Johnstone undertook the negotiations with the
French authorities relating to the establishment of our
hospital at His. She had hoped and planned to take her
full share of the management, but was obliged to return to
the Hague at the end of 1915.

Her interest in the hospital, however, never slackened.

THE PROJECT 7

On several occasions when I was in America Lady Johnstone
was at Ris and took charge of the administration in my
absence. In 1917, when the financial position of the hospital
became difficult and Dr. Blake resigned the position of
Me*decin-Chef, it was very largely due to the personal efforts
and influence of Lady Johnstone that the American committee
was founded, of which Mr. Herbert Satterlee, one of her close
personal friends, became chairman. Lady Johnstone, while
she was in Paris, undertook the work of interesting the
various charitable societies in our hospital, and the societies in
London and Paris, thus brought into touch with Ris, supplied
us in the most generous manner with bandages, clothing
and other requisites. Never did her practical sympathy flag
for a moment. As a partner I found her resourceful and
helpful in connection with all the troubles and annoyances
incidental to the work of such an institution, and kindness
itself when there was occasion for rejoicing or congratulation.

The last business interview that I had with Lady Johnstone
in Paris stands out in my mind because of two remarks she
made, very characteristic of her tact and humour.

She said, " Mr. Reckitt, I have not always agreed with
you in what you did at the hospital, but I always remem-
bered that you were on the spot and I wasn't." And then,
" I think our hospital is unique in the history of the war.
We finish our three years' work together with a balance in
hand and are still on speaking terms. . . ."

The amalgamation of our separate schemes once decided
on, we renewed our efforts to secure that opportunity to
serve the wounded on which we had both set our hearts.

Lady Johnstone had an American Red Cross hospital tent
unit of thirty-six beds, with the necessary tents for the
medical and nursing services and all surgical dressings and
medical supplies. I, on my part, undertook to supply the
ambulances and motor traction for this flying field unit. We
decided that we were in a position to finance a hospital of a
hundred beds. We offered this to the British Government
for northern France, but found that no privately managed
hospitals were to be henceforth accepted. I then ap-
proached Sir George Newman, M.D., head of the Friends'
Ambulance, which was working near Dunkirk, with the
object of supplying a surgical unit to work side by side
with their medical unit. We should much have liked to
have joined forces with the Friends, for, even within that first
nine months of the war, they had established a very high
reputation for self-denial and efficiency, but the bombardment

8 V.R. 76

of Dunkirk and the whole of the littoral, from there to the
last remaining point held by the Belgians, made it very
unlikely that serious surgical cases would be allowed to remain
at any hospital in that locality. Well do I remember my
interview with Sir George Newman at the Board of Education
when the whole matter was discussed and I told him that
Miss Dorothy Conner and Dr. Howard Fisher had both been
in the Lusitania on May 7th, 1915. He was standing by his
table with the sun shining full on his face and, as I finished
telling him how these two, who were to be part of our hospital
unit, had been saved, his eyes closed, his head bent and I knew
that he and I stood there in silent prayer.

With the abandonment of the Dunkirk project, Dr. Foster
Kennedy again went to France — this time to Paris — and
the offer of our unit was accepted in principle by M. Millerand,
the Minister of War, and M. de Piessac, who, in the Bureau
of the Service de Sante", dealt with all matters affecting les
Strangers.

As a final attempt to serve the British wounded we tried
Malta and Alexandria and undertook, in the event of being
accepted, that the Me*decin-Chef and Matron should be
appointed by the military authorities. A telegram was sent
to Malta, at our expense, containing this offer. The authorities
declined our services as they were amply provided with medical
and surgical units.

Subsequent events, the Gallipoli campaign and the much
longer campaign at Salonika, demonstrated how shortsighted
the military authorities were with regard to what was required
for the proper surgical treatment of the English wounded.

Dr. Kennedy made various excursions to look at positions
offered for a hospital, amongst others one at St. Pol, and Lady
Johnstone went over to Paris to assist him in trying to find
a suitable building. We were now in the desperate position
of being ready to accept anything to get to work. Our nurses
and doctors had all arrived from America and were living
in London doing nothing. Lady Johnstone succeeded in
waking up the Service de Sante to such an extent that they
suggested two or three buildings in northern France, and
put a Government motor car at our disposal for a visit of
inspection. One was a hotel at a seaside place a little south
of fetaples, on a small branch line starting from nowhere in
particular. One wondered where the wounded were to come
from and, if we were ever established there, whether we
should have any patients beyond some old territorial who
had sprained his ankle.

THE PROJECT 9

On returning to Paris Lady Johnstone went down to
Auxerre and found there, fourteen miles from a railway
station a half-ruined chateau which had been suggested for
a hospital.

Early in July, as things were again getting desperate, I
went over to Paris myself to consult with Lady Johnstone
and Dr. Kennedy. Madame Bimont, an old Washington
friend of ours, had come over to France in the hour of her
nation's distress to give her services as a humble citizen. I
shall never forget her kindness, her sympathy and her help
in the matter of establishing the hospital. With her I first
made the acquaintance of M. de Piessac and paid my respects
to the Minister of War, M. Millerand. At these interviews
we laid great stress on the necessity of getting a habitat
as soon as possible as the expense of maintaining a hospital
staff that was not at work was cutting into the resources
dedicated to the wounded. I am strongly of the opinion
that this long delay in getting a suitable place in which to
establish the hospital was not altogether unintentional.
At this time the French Government was very anxious as
to the strict neutrality of any Americans coming to work in
France, and my own belief is that they took up the references
of every single American in our unit. My instructions to
Dr. Lewis Conner of New York had always been that he should
send no doctor or nurse over to Europe who had any German
connections whatsoever, whether in name or parentage.

Three places were now offered us, a cinematograph theatre
in Paris, a public school building in one of the artisan quarters
of the city and a college of the Marist Fathers at Ris-Orangis,
Seine-et-Oise. All three places were visited by us separately.
When Lady Johnstone and I compared notes on the visit
to Ris we both felt exactly the same about the place : it was
perfectly wonderful for a hospital, but we were appalled at
its size and the magnitude of the work that would be required
to make it habitable. It was certainly by far the most suit-
able place that we had seen, although it was not as near the
English lines as Lady Johnstone had hoped that the hospital
might be. The building had these satisfactory features :
the roof was sound, the floors and walls were solid and the
windows and doors were in good order. The grounds were a
wilderness after the accumulated neglect of ten years.

It was decided to offer to take the college over as a hundred-
bed hospital and to get to work as speedily as possible.
Madame Bimont was indefatigable in procuring the necessary
Government permits and the work was started.

CHAPTER II

MAKING THE HOSPITAL

THE village of Ris-Orangis is about twenty-five kilometres
from Paris on the main road to Fontainebleau, Route
Nationale No. 7. It lies on the banks of the Seine, on the
flat gravel bed of the old river, and on either side the hills
rise sharply from this plain. On the Ris side they are some-
what further away than on that of Champrosay. The
building which was to house the Johnstone-Reckitt Founda-
tion stands on the hillside overlooking the Seine on its left
bank. It is a comparatively modern building of brick and
stone, built about forty years ago as a college by the Marist
Fathers and surrounded by a beautiful wooded park of about
thirty acres. At the entrance gate, on the main road from
Paris to Fontainebleau, is an older building, usually called
the Gate-House, which was most probably the original
foundation.

At the time of the disestablishment of the Church in
France, all the properties of the religious societies were sold
by the state and this college was bought by a Madame Bruns-
wick. Little or no use had been made of the building during
a period of over ten years. The grounds were very much
overgrown and only the main road to the back door was in
use. After we had been at the hospital for five weeks we
discovered another road which had entirely disappeared under
grass and weeds. This we remade at very considerable
expense in order to get access to the east entrance, which
was used for the reception of the blessls.

On the south front, which was up the hillside, the under-
growth was gradually cleared away and we found a high
brick wall and concrete paving which must have served the
monks either as a greenhouse or a winter garden. This was
afterwards used as a place for sun-baths for the wounded and
also for hand- ball exercise for the officers.

The village of Ris itself consisted practically of two streets
— one the main road from Paris to Fontainebleau and the
other the Rue du Pont, which led down to the railway station

IQ

MAKING THE HOSPITAL 11

and the bridge across the Seine. Before the war Ris boasted
a small casino and was one of the suburban watering-places
frequented by Parisians.

When we took over the building a certain amount of work
had been commenced in order to establish a convalescent
home for Alsatian soldiers and a considerable sum of money
had been collected for this purpose. Beds of various sizes
had been given and a beginning made with the electric light
and heating; some apparatus had been put up and shelves
and wooden tables made. The gentleman to whose initiative
this scheme was due had, after the first battle of the Marne,
become considerably suspect and blown upon. Stories of all
kinds floated round. The one which received the greatest
credence was that the Alsatian was no Alsatian, but a German
and that the convalescent home was intended for a German
hospital during the next siege of Paris. None of the people
who had been employed by M. Kuentzmann had been paid,
and I believe that for the rest of the war that gentleman was
carefully taken care of.

The question arose as to what we could and what we could
not use. But we were in too great a hurry to debate long
over this. We had waited for a building for many months
and, having got one, we did not want the war to be over
before we got our hospital into being, so, having collected all
the chairs and beds and bedding into two rooms, these were
carefully locked. Wood being very difficult to come by, we
made no bones about appropriating all there was on the
premises. We cut the tables to our own requirements and,
after much difficulty, persuaded the electricians to proceed
with their wiring.

The work began about the 14th August, 1915, and in the
course of a few days the building became an intricate mass
of material and men doing various kinds of jobs at the same
time. Notices were hung up in the village of Ris asking
for plumbers, joiners, glaziers, but there were few civilians
left to undertake such employment ; the bulk of the work had
to be done by the soldiers of the 22nd Reserve Regiment,
men of military age mobilised for the war, who were not fit
for active service.

M. Ganier, one of the best-known architects of Paris,
kindly put his services at our disposal and was of the
greatest assistance in planning the modern sanitary work
which it was necessary to instal. He gave his expert
guidance in all matters and, when the final accounts of the
reconstruction had to be settled, he exercised a powerful but

12 V.R. 76

scrupulously fair red pencil in checking the erratic charges
which were sometimes rendered by the local contractors.

Dr. Foster Kennedy had drawn out a plan for each floor,
allocating to each room its particular purpose, so that all
sanitary and water arrangements could be got on with at once.

Captain Honnorat, who represented the Service de Sante,
was given the supervision of the work of transforming the
monastic building at His into a hospital. It was through his
exertions that Captain Morel, our first Gestionnaire, with a
sergeant, a corporal and seventy poilus of the 22nd Regiment,
were sent to carry out the necessary alterations. He obtained
for us the services of M. Ganier as architect and gave the
orders necessary to get plumbers, carpenters and electricians,
issuing military instructions to the various firms to do our
work to the exclusion of any other.

Captain Honnorat drew up the first contract between the
hospital administration and the French Government. At
his request the hospital was enlarged from one hundred
to two hundred beds, the French Government making this
possible by giving 50,000 francs with the proviso that we on
our part should, at the completion of our work, leave behind
two hundred beds with mattresses, pillows, three blankets
and five sheets to each bed. We were to receive 3 francs a
day for each wounded man in the hospital ; the usual tariff
was frs. 2*50 and a higher rate for officers. We were to be a
military, not a blnevole hospital. This privilege entitled us
to the French soldiers who were employed in the heavy
manual work about the building ; we had to feed and house
them but they were paid by the Government. This con-
tingent supplied the following class of work : the barber, the
engineer in charge of the electric light plant and heating, the
man in charge of the wine cellar, the chef and his assistant,
the whole kitchen staff, the men in charge of the vestiaire
where the clothes and belongings of the French soldiers were
stored, several ward orderlies, the staff of the Gestionnaire's
office, odd men for keeping the grounds clean and tidy, two
motor drivers, electricians and painters.

While the rebuilding was going on this contingent numbered
about seventy, being reduced to twenty-five or thirty when
the hospital was in running order. Captain Honnorat was
indefatigable in his driving force while the work of recon-
struction was being carried out, and stormy as only a French-
man could make them were the occasions upon which the
sergeant and corporal were called to attention.

Shortly after we received our first wounded Captain

MAKING THE HOSPITAL 13

Honnorat returned to his civil employment as Chief of the
Police of the 3rd Arrondissement of Paris. Although his
official connection with the hospital was so short, he was
always willing to help us at any time and in any way that
lay in his power. Should someone be suddenly called to
England and want assistance at the Hotel de Ville or at the
Prefecture of Police, he had only to tell Captain Honnorat
that he was at Ris Hospital and the way was made easy.

In Captain Honnorat's district was the market of les
Holies, and, when he knew that we were making arrangements
to buy the bulk of our perishable provisions there, he gave us
a list of the best and most trustworthy merchants to deal
with. He was in every way a good friend to the hospital, and
all who came into contact with him liked him for his force
of character, his kindness and thoughtfulness.

I recall with something like remorse an incident in which
he fared badly at our hands. During the reconstruction
period the weather was glorious and at times terribly hot.
One evening Captain Honnorat came to us later than usual,
between nine and nine-thirty. He had been working all
day and had had no dinner. But oh, how he would like a
glass of beer !

There were no lights in the kitchen and the doors were
locked, but somehow Dr. Kennedy succeeded in getting in
and returned with a bottle of beer. He poured it out. It
struck me as being a little flat and I said so, but Captain
Honnorat remarked, " Flat or not flat, it's wet."

One long satisfying gulp and then an explosion in which he
emitted from his mouth the contents of the glass.

:t What have you given me? " he said.

We did our best to console him and told him we were no
wiser than he. He said, " It is awful 1 "

The mystery was not explained until next morning, when
the chef explained that he had been doctoring one of the
bottles of beer in order to catch a thief.

Captain Honnorat had distinct views on the decoration
of the wards. He believed that patients did much better in
bright surroundings and therefore insisted on vivid bands of
colour at the top of the dado, while the dado itself would
be either pale yellow or green, never white. This idea of
brightness we further carried out by having bedspreads of
comparatively strong colours instead of the usual white.

During the six weeks from August 14th to September 26th,
1915, when the hospital was officially opened, the work of
preparation went on at a breakneck pace.

14 V.R. 76

The operating theatre had to be arranged for first, as it is
around this room that a surgical hospital revolves. It was
while this room was being perfected that a tragedy nearly
took place. The only two soldiers in the contingent who
were competent to do this special kind of painting, recom-
menced a quarrel of the night before while still suffering from
the effects of their potions. Knives were drawn but bloodshed
was averted. They were reported to the Gestionnaire, who
at once condemned them to huit jours de prison. This
necessitated nearly a fortnight's delay in completing the
operating-room, which was wanted immediately. The fact
was put before Captain Morel, who suspended their imprison-
ment pending the completion of the painting. It is doubtful
whether, with the prison sentence in front of them on the
completion of their task, it materially expedited matters.

In the early period of the reconstruction work, great
inconvenience was caused by some of the soldiers returning
the worse for wear night after night and disturbing the rest
of the doctors, who were camping in the uncompleted hospital.
Their condition also retarded the work next morning. Dr.
Kennedy at last made up his mind to deal with the matter
drastically, but sending the men to prison merely deprived
us of workers and appeared to have no effect upon the
culprits. So one night on the return of two delinquents,
he medically examined them and pronounced the necessity
for the stomach-pump. This he used without too much
care for their feelings. It was such a lesson that for over
three weeks peace reigned.

Captain Honnorat's suggestion that the hot water for the
baths should be supplied by gas geysers turned out to be
unfortunate. As the war proceeded there was not sufficient

Pressure to enable us to use the gas-rings, much less the
eating apparatus for the baths. Gas was also used as a
second luminant in the operating theatre. Both the main
kitchen and the diet kitchen were provided with gas-stoves.
The electric light plant was driven by producer gas, but for a
short run of one hour, or an hour and a half for the X-ray
room in the afternoon, it was found too expensive to use the
producer gas-plant, so that a special main had to be put in
for the gas-engine.

Two new water mains had to be laid, one to each end of
the building, for the baths and sanitary purposes and for
the fire hydrants that were fixed upon each floor. The
only use, fortunately, that these fire hydrants were ever put
to was for watering the garden with the hose-pipe.

To lace p. 14]

THE OPERATING THEATRE AND THE ANESTHETIC ROOM.

MAKING THE HOSPITAL 15

The septic tanks had to be entirely renewed and enlarged.
This work, while very efficiently and well done at the time,
proved eventually to be entirely inadequate, and a year and
a half afterwards an entirely new system of drainage had
to be installed.

The work of the ambulance drivers now became pretty
constant. Wood had to be fetched from Corbeil and Juvisy,
loads of paint from Paris, and we were much handicapped by
the back axle of our motor lorry having been cracked when
she was unloaded on the quay at Havre. This breakdown
necessitated Christie returning to England to bring out the
Dennis car.

Every room in the building had to be painted, and there
were very nearly eighty of them.

As the work of painting and decorating proceeded a new
anxiety faced us. Would our material ever arrive from
England?

The Purchasing Department of the British Red Cross had
kindly undertaken to supply us with our beds, mattresses,
blankets, sheets, etc., and the despatch of this equipment for
a hundred-bed hospital was arranged for me by Mr. Goff,
that most courteous, energetic and efficient of Red Cross
officials. Every single article for household and hospital use
was included in the list. Two truck-loads were sent off from
England early in August. Week after week went by and all
we knew was that they had arrived at Boulogne and that the
French army had arranged that they should come in, duty
free, and with free transport on the railway. It was not until
somewhere about September 15th that our trucks arrived.
We learnt afterwards that the offensive on the British front
had caused the delay.

The difficulties of getting Red Cross goods for a new
institution free into France were very great, the matter having
to be taken up by two different departments. The War
Office and the Service de Sante gave us every facility and used
their best endeavours, but all the papers had to go before the
Ministry of Finance, as it was the custom of that ministry
to charge the full duty as against the War Office, and our
difficulty was to establish our identity with the Minister of
Finance. Once this was done, we had no further trouble over
hospital stores with either department. I may say here
that the French departments were always slow in accepting
anybody, but, once you had gained their confidence, there
was hardly anything that they would not do for you. I can
only speak with the highest praise and gratitude of the treat-

16 V.R. 76

ment which I received from every French department with
which I came in contact throughout my three years' service
in France. Through the kindness of Madame Bimont, who
instructed me in some of the methods of French official life,
I was able to get into close personal touch with many of the
officials, and I found that by adopting the ceremonious
etiquette considered proper I induced the wheels of business
to run smoothly.

Among those who helped me in the early days of the
hospital work I must not forget to mention Professor
and Madame Weiss, whom I met at the military hospital
in the Rue d'Ulm near the Pantheon. They were always
ready with advice and counsel.

During the whole of this period we were supplementing
in France the orders for stores and equipment which we had
given in London. One of the most difficult things to procure
was anything in the nature of enamel ware which, before
the war, had come almost entirely from Austria.

I remember upon one occasion a " Wants List," which had
been authorised by me and was sent into Paris for execution,
came back quite inadequately filled. The housekeeper
remarked, "Mr. Reckitt, I don't believe these buyers try.
I can assure you if I had gone into Belfast I could have got
these things in any sixpenny-halfpenny bazaar."

At last, by the 22nd September, the bulk of the work
on the ground floor and the first floor was complete. All
these rooms had been painted, ceilings white-washed and the
floors scrubbed and scrubbed again. Later all these wood
floors throughout the building were waxed and polished.

I had to go to London on hospital business on September
25th, and the very next night the first train-load of wounded
was brought in from Juvisy junction. It became a byword
in the hospital when the beds were empty : " Don't you
think, Mr. Reckitt, it is time you went over to England
again ? " and invariably, as soon as I left, the hospital was
filled up.

CHAPTER III

PERSONNEL: OUR ORIGINAL STAFF

OUR patients at Ris were drawn from the four quarters
of the globe, our personnel was almost as varied in nationality.
The staff was, naturally, for the most part British and
American, but the list of nationalities represented comprised :

French, Norwegian,

Italian, Luxembourgeois,

Russian, Filipino,
Dutch,

and one of the earliest recruits, Zelliacus, a Russian subject,
was a Finn by race. The various elements owing allegiance
to the Union Jack were from:

England, Canada,

Scotland, Australia,

Ireland, New Zealand.
Wales,

During the early months of 1915 I attended classes at the
Red Cross Institute in Vere Street. I felt it was necessary
to try and learn something about other people's jobs if I
was going to be administrator of a hospital. In addition to
the ordinary courses of first aid, hygiene and bandaging,
I joined the stretcher-bearers' class and learnt the proper
handling of the wounded. After this course of ambulance
work, we started classes at Little Green for the men on the
estate who had volunteered to go with me to France.
Christie and Spiers, my two chauffeurs, Leggett and Simpson,
woodmen, Levitt, a gardener, and Cress well, a keeper, made
up the little company. The news of our efforts spread
and came to the ears of Mr. Moray Williams of Petersfield,
who later on conducted our ambulance drill on the lawn in
front of the house.

One evening a pupil of his, Zelliacus, a young Finn, arrived
about eight o'clock on a push-bike, with no hat and sneakers,
c 17

18 V.R. 76

very hot and tired after a nine-mile ride. He wanted to go
out to France as an orderly, the butler did not know where
to put him and I discovered him in the housekeeper's room
meditating on his fate. I asked him what his qualifications
were. He said frankly that he had not any. In some
respects this was the best qualification of all, because he
had no preconceived ideas as to an orderly's duties and had
nothing to unlearn. The futility of holding a Red Cross
certificate obtained by six weeks' study, can only be gauged
by those who have had the trouble of re-education.

I told Zelliacus that the best thing he could do was to
get some training, and he went to one of the schools at
Cambridge and took a four-months' course. Eventually he
came out to us at Ris and was with us for a year and a
half as a volunteer orderly. He left our hospital when he
was twenty-one to take out his naturalisation papers as an
Englishman, in order to go into the army. He was rejected
because he had lost two toes as a boy but, since he could
run his hundred in eleven and climb like a cat, the reason
did not seem adequate. However, he was used as a linguist
in the Foreign Office for the rest of the war.

During these months we were gradually recruiting the
other orderlies. Only men (of military age) holding exemp-
tion certificates were accepted and these were not easy to
find. The British Red Cross was unable to give me any
promises in this direction and suggested that I might get
help from the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The cour-
teous reception that I received in the ancient gate-house
where the order is established will be always a pleasant
memory but, unfortunately, the Order of St. John was no
more able to supply me with men than the Red Cross Society.

Towards the end of June the recruiting of orderlies for
the hospital was put into the hands of Dr. Mohan. I sent
him to 3, Vere Street and there he had the kind assistance
of Sir James Cantlie, who enthusiastically entered into the
work of getting us suitable men. Dr. Mohan also had to see
that each member of the staff had been vaccinated at a
recent date and inoculated against enteric. Dr. Giles and
Dr. Holbrook were engaged at this time in unpacking and
making a complete inventory of the hospital stores, the gift
of Lady Johnstone, which were temporarily placed in the
warehouse at 125, Queen Victoria Street, London, lent us by
Mr. A. L. Reckitt of Reckitt & Sons, Ltd.

Mr. Gage also joined our staff at this time and remained
with the unit throughout the whole period of its effective-

PERSONNEL: OUR ORIGINAL STAFF 19

ness. Larcher, who spoke perfect French, as he was born in
Mauritius, was appointed Head Orderly.

Soon after Dr. Foster Kennedy's arrival in England it
had been thought advisable that Dr. Howard Fisher of
Washington should come over to help us in the work of
organising the hospital. My wife's sister, Miss Dorothy
Conner, took the opportunity of coming over with her
brother-in-law. The dangers of ocean traffic as it approached
English waters were beginning to be felt and we on this
side wired to suggest that the Lusitania would be the safest
vessel to choose. Happily we were spared the sorrow and
anguish which fell to the lot of many who had relatives on
that ill-fated ship. Both Miss Conner and Dr. Fisher were
saved, but the anxious hours after the first press messages
came through that the Lusitania had been torpedoed, until
at eleven o'clock next day in Liverpool we learned that our
relatives were safe, are something that cannot be written
about.

Their personal experiences were pieced together gradually.
The torpedo struck the vessel just as those who were having
late lunch were leaving the table. Dr. Fisher, having seen
the ladies at his table go up on deck, went below to get
life-belts and found the water streaming in through the
portholes of his cabin. It was only at the last that Miss
Conner jumped from the sinking ship. An hour and a half
later she came to consciousness on a raft in the bright sun-
shine after artificial respiration had been applied to her by a
young American engineer and a Canadian nurse. She owed
her life to the latter.

As her apparently lifeless body floated past the raft, the
nurse said, " I believe I see the pulse in her neck beating."
She was taken from the water, both her hands clasped tightly
behind her head in the manner so often used by experienced
swimmers, and after twenty minutes of strenuous exertion
consciousness returned. Her last recollection, as she was
sucked down by the sinking ship, was being entangled in
ropes and cordage.

Dr. Howard Fisher also jumped and as he went down he
said to himself, " It is just a question of how long you can
hold your breath."

On coming to the surface, being an excellent swimmer, he
rested on his back and then swam to an upturned lifeboat,
to which he hung for three and a half hours before being
picked up by a Greek ship. One lady was saved about the
same time, as she sat quietly in a deck-chair, floating on the

20 V.R. 76

surface of the water. Of the five people at the table where
Miss Conner and Dr. Fisher sat each one was picked up in a
different boat, and it was not till ten or eleven the next
morning that they were able to get into communication
with each other.

Early in June the doctors and nurses who had been
enlisted in New York by Dr. Lewis Conner arrived in
England— Dr. Mohan, Dr. Yeates, Dr. Giles, Dr. Holbrook
and Nurses Morris, Archer, Beatty, Moffat, Powell and
Gallagher. Dr. Mohan joined the British army in April 1916
and Dr. Yeates the Canadian force later on.

Other members of the staff were being gradually collected.
Lady Congreve (then Mrs. Congreve), a personal friend of
Lady Johnstone's, who had already been in the retreat from
Antwerp and served in northern France, joined us as a
V.A.D., Miss Julia Colby of Boston as Housekeeper, Mrs.
Excell and Miss Barugh. We were all new to the hospital
business and very few of the people who were enrolled for
a particular post held that post for long. For instance,
Mrs. Excell started in the linen room and eventually became
a nurse, while Miss Colby later took charge of the linen
department.

I would like to here put on record the good-natured
adaptability of all the original staff. They seemed to be
imbued with the idea that they were there to make them-
selves useful and not to stand on their dignity.

Lady Congreve was associated with Lady Johnstone and
myself from the beginning of the amalgamation of our
respective efforts. Though it can hardly be said that we
had a committee in those early days, so seldom could those
responsible for the hospital organisation meet together, yet
whenever a nebulous committee did sit, Lady Congreve was
a member of it. While Lady Johnstone was in England,
Lady Congreve acted as her representative and in my absence
was Treasurer Substitute.

During the months of August and September 1915 Lady
Congreve worked manfully in imparting the rudiments of
the French language to the nurses and doctors. When the
hospital opened she had charge of the non-commissioned
officers' ward on the first floor. Her position was always
a difficult one, that of a V.A.D. in the ward and a member
of the committee in the office, but she made this almost
impossible position easy for everybody. Should I be
visiting the first floor and go into her ward to find out
whether or not cupboards or shelves were wanted, never did

To face p. 20] %

DR. BLAKE WITH HIS ORIGINAL MEDICAL STAFF.

PERSONNEL: OUR ORIGINAL STAFF 21

she give a decision in the matter without calling Miss Ricketts,
the Charge Nurse of the floor, to give her approval. I
always had her support on any question of economy.
She would say, " Well, this is war-time and surely we can
do without that kind of luxury." How much I owe to her
tact and goodwill in smoothing out the little daily difficulties
in the nursing department I shall most probably never know.
She brought with her her youngest boy, John, aged fourteen,
a boy scout, who acted as messenger-boy.

After a year of devoted work, hearing that many of the
French hospitals were in urgent need of skilled nurses, Lady
Congreve left us to go to Revigny. Afterwards she went
out to Palestine with her husband, General Congreve, who
was in command there.

Our first Gestionnaire was Lieut. Morel, who, a few months
after he came to us, got his third galon and promotion to
Captain.

The Gestionnaire in a French hospital is the official
military representative of the army, appointed by the
Service de Sante. His duties are to maintain order and
discipline among the military patients of the hospital, to
control the work of the French military contingent, to keep
an official record of all the military patients who enter and
leave the hospital, to communicate with their relatives and
friends, to pay all the military patients while in the hospital,
and to control the military postmen. To him also fell the
pleasant duty, when any of the blessls were decorated, to read
the citation and to make all the necessary arrangements for
the functions. As an officer, the Gestionnaire was always
a member of our mess.

Captain Morel was a large, heavy, jolly Frenchman, bon
vivant and bon gar$on. He was a good disciplinarian, very
anxious to do all in his power to help us and to expedite
matters, but his vivacity of spirit was somewhat handicapped
by excessive avoirdupois. He made great efforts to learn
the English language and I believe understood much more
than his conversational powers would lead one to suppose.
He was very regular in some of his self-appointed duties,
and you could set your watch with perfect accuracy to
eleven o'clock when he went to the village for his daily
aperitif.

For the first two months before the internal arrangements
for the hospital were in working order, Captain Morel under-
took all the catering for the doctors and nurses at a fixed
sum per head, and in those days, before eggs, chickens and

22 V.R. 76

butter had begun to soar in price, he was able to do us very
well at frs. 5 per day per person.

Captain Morel left the hospital while I was in America
in the spring of 1916, and I was very sorry to miss his kind
and jovial face on my return. I think if I had been in
France he would not have gone. There was some misunder-
standing with regard to commissions, which were perfectly
regular from a French point of view, while from an English
standpoint they were difficult to understand. Captain Morel's
accounts were most admirably kept and produced during his
term of office. The system of commission is a French institu-
tion, and during Captain Morel's office our marketing, I am
assured, suffered nothing from it. The whole time that he
was with us the discipline both in the hospital and in the
French contingent was admirable.

The English orderlies enlisted for the hospital service were
all men over forty years of age or men who had in their
possession their medical rejection papers from the army.
This rule was insisted upon throughout the whole period of
the hospital's existence. At one time the French blesses
began to call some of our English orderlies enibusques, and
ask why they were not in the army. We at once issued
notices in French, which were posted throughout the hospital
and also at the Mairie in the town, explaining the case.

The point of view of the French soldier is not to be
wondered at, since, in France, every man of military age has
to join the army. At that period there were Frenchmen
up to forty-eight years of age in the fighting line. We had
in England certain employments which gave exemption
from army service on account of their national importance.
In France there were no such exemptions. If the French
Government made a demand for engineers, coal-miners, or
any other particular class of artisan to carry on an industry,
these were released from their regiment, but remained soldiers
and were paid as soldiers. There was no Class C3, as in
England, but in France there were special reserve regiments
which were used behind the lines for sanitary, hospital and
other service to which this class of man was relegated.

When the food lifts were put into the hospital, the manu-
facturer obtained three men from the front to make the
lifts, as they were required for a military hospital, and on
the completion of their work they returned to the firing
line. In my judgment this scheme is eminently equitable
and democratic. Men were not left at home drawing huge
wages on work of national importance, while men not engaged

PERSONNEL: OUR ORIGINAL STAFF 23

in those particular selected employments were doing the
fighting at the front. But every system has its drawbacks
and the French plan certainly caused enormous dislocation
of business at the beginning of the war. In Paris all the
postmen were at the front, while the business of delivering
letters was undertaken by territorials, leading to needless
confusion and delays. That there were men who were able
to escape the duties of a soldier in the firing line is undoubtedly
true, yet these exceptions must not be set against the sim-
plicity of the system. After the first two years of the war
the French Government found it necessary to release from
the army a considerable number of commercial men in order
to maintain their foreign trade with the United States and
South America.

Amongst the French contingent who worked with us there
were men of almost every grade of life. Our postman,
M. Wolfe, was attached to the Paris Opera House. Another
man had been librarian to the Chamber of Commerce in Paris,
and his particular duty was to keep the grounds clean and
tidy. Our barber stayed with us for the whole three years.
In private life he was a fashionable ladies' hairdresser in
Paris, and in his off-duty hours an enthusiastic fisherman.

I believe there is one thing that no Englishman, how-
ever good a French scholar he may be, has ever been able
to make a Frenchman thoroughly understand, and that is
the status of a conscientious objector in England. The only
category in which a Frenchman could possibly place him
would be that of an epileptic or a lunatic.

On the 27th July, 1915, we brought over the doctors,
nurses and orderlies from England. For a few days they
stayed in Paris, but the expense of keeping such a large
number of people at the Grand Hotel was appalling. We
were able to get rooms for the nurses at the village inns of
Ris and Juvisy, and as soon as the tent equipment provided
by Lady Johnstone arrived from England, the male staff
and the orderlies camped in rooms in the hospital.

The inconveniences and discomforts of that period can be
easily imagined, but everyone took them in good part and the
beautiful weather made matters very much easier for every-
body. We found the cots, bedding, furniture and cooking
utensils comprised in the tent equipment of the greatest use.
Shortly after we moved into the hospital building, Lady
Congreve made the suggestion that the mattresses belonging
to these cots should be permanently filled with wool and
hair and used for staff. This was done and the cots thus

24 V.R. 76

equipped were used by the nurses during the whole three
years of the life of the hospital.

The transport of staff was not accomplished without many
difficulties. The papers necessary for admission to France
had to be procured and here we met the first check. Could,
or could not, the British Red Cross Society issue certificates
to American citizens ? We finally persuaded the authorities
to grant all our Americans Anglo-French certificates, but this
was the first and last time it was ever done.

It was just at this time that the Anglo-French Committee
had got the necessary authorisation from the British and
the French Governments for a special Red Cross uniform
for their male staff and, when the volunteer motor-drivers
arrived at Havre, they were threatened with arrest by the
British military authorities for wearing an unauthorised
uniform. Mr. Herbert B. Grotrian, the distinguished Recorder
of Scarborough, was equal to the occasion, as he had a
printed copy of the regulations in his pocket, and pointed
out that the particular piece of officer's braid to which
exception had been taken, was specially mentioned in the
official description of the uniform. Our unit was the first
to land in France wearing this uniform.

The organisation of the Passport Department had not yet
become perfect, and the packed rooms at the French
Consulate in Bedford Square, where one could wait hours
without apparently making any progress, were a perfect
nightmare to the faint-hearted. Those who had slightly
more cheek or push or those who traded upon the beauty
of their new uniform were successful in getting the necessary
vise in a comparatively short period by going up the back
stairs, instead of through the official entrance.

My wife and I wished to take Miss Dorothy Conner
across with us and here fresh trouble arose. We chose
the route by way of Folkestone and Boulogne and at
the last moment discovered that only allies and British
citizens were allowed to go that way, an American subject,
as a neutral, having to go to Dieppe. I was fortunate
enough to find Dr. Edward Hedley, who had attended Miss
Conner when she first landed after the sinking of the
Lusitania, and he gave her a certificate stating that after
such a disastrous experience, the shorter sea voyage would
be the best for her health. Armed with this document I
was able to get permission for her to go via Boulogne, but
we met with fresh difficulty, as it was essential for Miss
Conner, as a neutral, to have a French Internal Passport

PERSONNEL: OUR ORIGINAL STAFF 25

in addition to all her other papers. This necessitated more
photographs and at one time it looked as if our departure
might be postponed for another week, but at last we got
off and arrived in Paris in time to make arrangements at
the Grand Hotel for the rest of our party.

CHAPTER IV

IN FULL SWING

IT seemed as though Dr. Foster Kennedy, the first Medecin-
Chef of the Hopital Militaire V.R. 76, might have to return
to America without treating a single bless e at Ris. He had
come over to Europe for six months, with Mrs. Kennedy,
giving his services voluntarily, and five months had elapsed
before we were fairly installed.

If a great part of his time with the Johnstone-Reckitt
Unit was spent in spade-work, often of an uncongenial
description, it was he who was, in great measure, responsible
for laying, well and truly, the foundations of our work at
Ris-Orangis.

To him fell the important task of mapping out and
allotting the rooms of the hospital. So successfully was this
accomplished that the changes made by his successors were
very small. He ordered all the medical and surgical requisites
and showed the greatest care and judgment in their selection.
It was he too who successfully protested against an order
of the Service de Sante, changing the designation of the
hospital from "Hopital Militaire V.R. 76" to "Hopital
Benevole No. 7 bis." Some official of the Service de Sante,
not knowing that the privileges of a military hospital had
been conferred upon an organisation which was supported
voluntarily, desired to place us in our appropriate Binivole
class. No doubt he was technically right, as the status of
the Ris Hospital as a French military hospital was very
unusual. Naturally we were very tenacious of our rights,
and of the exceptional honour that had been conferred
upon us, and we were fortunate enough, through Captain
Honnorat's good offices, to have the title of Military Hospital
once and for all determined in our favour. This was
a very important concession, as it carried with it the
right to buy meat and dried vegetables, coffee, sugar and
like commodities, at a military depot, on the terms of re-
imbursement, and to draw supplies of drugs and medicines
from the military stores in Paris under similar conditions.

26

IN FULL SWING 27

Also it entitled us to an officer as Gestionnaire with a full
complement of sous-officiers and men of the 22nd Regiment.

In the autumn of 1915 Captain Honnorat asked us if we
should like to be present at the reception of returned French
wounded from Germany. It was a lovely autumn morning
when we caught the 7.30 train to Paris. When we arrived
at La Chapelle the men were just sitting down to break-
fast; their wives and children and mothers were there too,
come to welcome home these wrecks of humanity who,
according to the eye of a German doctor, would not again
be fit to take part in the war. Everything had been done
for their reception as honoured guests, tables gaily decorated
with flowers and champagne provided for every man. A
charming one-storey hospital with wards and receiving-
rooms, all spotlessly white, had been erected inside a huge
goods-shed; the proportions between the two suggested a
dolls' house set up in a big room.

One of the returned prisoners of war came up to Dr.
Kennedy and said : " Are you an English officer ? If so will
you do something for me ? "

He produced a letter which he had brought out from
Germany, from an English soldier who had been in the next
bed to him in hospital. He said, " The Englishman did not
know whether his people knew that he was alive." I
remember that the letter was addressed to Manchester and
the poilu asked Dr. Kennedy to post it. He had risked being
sent back to Germany if the letter were found when the final
search was made before he crossed the frontier.

He said, " Oh, this is nothing. It was so easy to do. I
took out the stiff lining of the collar of my tunic and put the
letter there instead and sewed it up again."

One of these returned prisoners of war, who, I should judge,
might have been a mechanic's foreman in civil life, an intelli-
gent man and educated above the average, said to me : "I want
to tell you because you are an Englishman. You must hear.
I want everyone to know it. The Englishmen in the hospitals
in Germany are treated horribly. For myself and for the
French I have no complaint to make. If it had been once,
it might have been an accident. It was not once, it was
four, five, six, seven times. Every time that an Englishman
was taken to the operating theatre he came back to the
ward without a leg or an arm, however trivial a wound might
be. It was done on purpose."

The intensity with which the man spoke leaves no doubt
in my mind that he believed everything he said, and I

28 V.R. 76

am compelled to believe, too, that what he said was the
truth.

Happily Dr. Kennedy was able to start the work for which
he had come over, the care of the French wounded, for on
the night of Sunday September 26th, the first convoy arrived,
from Juvisy Junction, to the number of seventy.

Juvisy was a particularly awkward station for the stretcher-
bearers' work, as the big shed where the wounded were
unloaded was in the middle of a network of railway lines,
the only access to which was over a very long bridge, span-
ning eight lines of track with two very awkward turns at
the staircases at each end. The hospital orderlies made
several special visits to the station to accustom themselves to
the work, as very often this had to be performed at night.
Dr. Kennedy volunteered to be the dummy patient and, after
one journey over the bridge and past two bad corners, insisted
that two broad linen straps should be fitted to hold the
wounded on to the stretcher as, in turning the corners, half
the stretcher was over the railway line.

Owing to some change in the Military Department we
ceased to receive wounded at Juvisy and for a time ceased
to receive wounded at all. Although we daily telephoned to
Headquarters in Paris, giving the number of vacant beds
in the hospital, it was found necessary to make constant
official calls on the heads of the departments in Paris and
there make arrangements to keep the hospital full. We
pointed out to M. de Piessac and to General Fevrier that
it was uneconomical to keep a hospital fully staffed doing
only a small amount of work. We offered to send our
ambulances to La Chapelle, a little to the north of the
Gare du Nord, for wounded. Colonel Lang, Chief of Staff
to General FeVrier, said that he would be glad to make
this arrangement if the roads were suitable for such a journey
and the ambulances were of the highest class. He personally
made the whole journey to Ris in an ambulance over the road
we were to travel, and inspected all our cars. He then gave
permission for our hospital to be attached to the La Chapelle
service.

At one time we anticipated that we might have to keep
two ambulances in Paris constantly attached to this station,
but arrangements were finally made that we were to be
summoned by telephone. During the day this proved to
be quite practicable, but after a time we found that we
had been summoned for night service on many occasions
and were reprimanded for not having sent ambulances.

IN FULL SWING 29

After eight o'clock at night, when the public service ceased
at the post office, instructions were given to the Ris post-
mistress to permanently put the Ris telephone on the trunk
line to Paris. We found, on investigation, that she, instead
of connecting our hospital with Paris, connected the summer
villa of the son of the Deputy of the Department with the
young man's lady love in Paris. Our Gestionnaire threatened
to take possession of the post office after eight o'clock at night
and put in one of his own soldiers to take charge. This had
the desired effect and the night service between the hospital
and Paris became effective.

One or two small hospital trains were despatched to Ris
station, but the accommodation there was not very good,
and in 1916 Villeneuve St. Georges, about nine kilometres
distant, became the centre to which the wounded were
despatched for the district which we were called upon to
serve.

It may be of interest here to sketch the career of a blesst,
from the time of his reception to his evacuation.

On the arrival of the train the senior French doctor would
go through compartment after compartment accompanied
by the other French Me*decins- Chefs and decide to which
hospital each of the wounded should go. There were some-
times, I believe, rather acrimonious discussions over par-
ticularly interesting cases. Out of a train of a hundred and
twenty- six wounded Ris usually took seventy to eighty.

As soon as the wounded were labelled, they were carried
out in stretchers and laid in long rows in the big covered
goods-shed which was used for their reception. Then began
the work of the canteen nurses, who went round offering
coffee, hot milk, lemonade and bread, to be followed shortly
afterwards by a distribution of cigarettes. This duty often
fell to my lot and it was with scrupulous care that I avoided
lighting three cigarettes with one match, and I have over
and over again noticed on the faces of the soldiers a look
of intense appreciation of my knowledge of their superstition.
I think that the explanation for this belief can be found in
the fact that the three candles in Roman Catholic countries
which are placed at the head of the dead must be lit with one
match to give a figurative expression to the Christian dogma
of the Trinity.

As soon as the first batch had had their coffee and cigarettes,
the Motor Captain and the doctor of the day in charge
proceeded to pick out the most seriously wounded for despatch
to the various hospitals. The process lasted four or five

30 V.R. 76

hours, because over eighty per cent, of the cases were stretcher
and only four such could be taken in an ambulance at a time.
Very serious cases were always accompanied by a doctor,
nurse or orderly.

The things that one remembers most were not the prescribed
routine of the service, but the little uncalled-for touches of
devotion and care which were given to this mangled collection
of humanity.

The staff of the Gestionnaire's office had to be present at
the station to verify the official number and regiment of
each man who was going to the Ris Hospital. It was found
much more convenient to get this information from their
tags while they were on stretchers in the great shed, than
to stop the ambulance at the Gate-House to get it there ; it
also prevented much unnecessary pain and discomfort to the
wounded.

The canteen service at Ris was originally organised by
Mrs. Blake, and eventually taken over by the hospital and
directed by Miss Robertson, the Matron. Mr. Lindsay Bury
specially contrived two large wooden boxes to contain the
cups, coffee, bread and biscuits.

The motor ambulances would take about half an hour to
get to Ris, instructions being given to travel very slowly.
One of our good friends in the village was the woman in
charge of the gates at the level crossing and no ambulance
was ever kept waiting by her. An enemy to be feared on
nights like these was a white impenetrable fog which made
the journey not only longer, but full of difficulty.

When the wounded arrived at the hospital from the railway
station, it was the duty of the French contingent to act as
brancardiers and carry the stretchers to the several wards.
This duty they continued the next day when the patients
had to be taken to the X-ray department. If a large number
of wounded were received who had not come straight from
the front, they were at once put to bed, given hot soup,
and tucked up for the night. But should the wounded have
arrived almost directly from the firing line, it was necessary
to wash them and redress their wounds, before despatching
them to the wards. A swab was taken from the wound of
each and sent to the laboratory for examination. Only the
very worst cases or those requiring emergency treatment were
X-rayed and operated upon on their arrival.

On arrival in the reception ward on the ground floor
the men were stripped and washed, their wounds re-dressed,
their clothing was sorted, their uniform and boots, which

IN FULL SWING 31

were not washable, were put into a sack marked with their
number and despatched to an outside shed to be eventually
sent to Versailles to be fumigated. Personal belongings
were always placed in a blue linen bag and deposited by
each man's side on the stretcher. These said blue bags were
all made by our American refugees at Little Green in the
summer of 1914. Next day the contents of each sack were
sorted, all things that could be washed and boiled, such as
underlinen and socks, were sent to the laundry ; the uniforms,
puttees, etc., were then made up into bundles and were sent
to Versailles to be fumigated by steam heat. At first we had a
formalin plant for disinfecting, but after the lamp blew up,
this local disinfecting was abandoned and the ambulance
made the journey with the "livestock" to Versailles after
each reception of wounded. All the underclothing, after
being laundered, was mended, but not much of it was ever
used again. The uniforms were mended and patched by the
devoted ladies of the village of Ris, helped by a regimental
tailor, whose place later in the war was taken by a woman.
As soon as the kit had been dealt with, the serious cases
were taken to the X-ray room on the first floor and then
across the corridor to the operating theatre if the case was
urgent.

The next day was taken up with re-dressing wounds and
X-ray observations, the Medecin-Chef deciding, on the receipt
of the reports, as to the necessity of operating.

As we became more expert in war surgery the one thing
that orderlies and nurses were on the look out for was the
presence of gas gangrene. This germ developed very rapidly
and if its presence was detected on first entry a speedy
operation was necessary. One of the reasons for X-ray
observation on the first entry to the hospital was, that
Mr. Gage made the discovery that it was often possible to
make an immediate diagnosis of gas gangrene by an X-ray
plate.

Of course during the reception of wounded the routine of
the hospital had still to go on. Nurses had to come on day
duty at the usual time, and the night nurses and orderlies
had to do their best to get the morning washing done before
the arrival of the day staff. Volunteers from the day
staff who had been at work all night with the incoming
patients would have to take up their ordinary round of
duties. Many of the English orderlies voluntarily gave up
their night's sleep to attend the new arrivals. Many of
the staff not directly connected with the medical service

32 V.R. 76

found that they could usefully help in undressing and
washing.

It was necessary to keep the receiving-room warm, and
with a large number of people working in a confined space
the atmosphere often became fetid and hot and the smell
of ether overpowering. I remember one night, after working
there for two hours, being caught by Major Penhallow as I
was slipping quietly to the floor in the corridor. The Ma j or was
not in much better form than myself, but after a few minutes
in the fresh air we adjourned to the diet kitchen, which on
these nights was always open, presided over by Marie, who
always had hot coffee ready for the weary.

I remember amongst the blessls whom I saw on their
first arrival a man who seemed to be just one mass of wounds.
Fifty-seven individual wounds were individually dressed,
while there were patches which were not counted. Happily
for him they were nearly all superficial and in the course of
a month he was almost convalescent.

The method which we adopted in Ris in calculating the
amount of work done by the hospital was not based upon
the number of individual patients received and evacuated,
but upon " Patient Days." The figures are arrived at by
counting the number of beds occupied each day, so that the
number of Patient Days for a given month would be
the total number of patients each day, added together for
the whole month. This method of reckoning is by far the
fairest, as some patients stayed in the hospital for six or seven
months, while, on the other hand, the lighter cases were
often evacuated within two or three days. The average
length of stay of patients in the Ris Hospital was forty-eight
and a half days, the reason for this being the large number
of fracture cases. A record of our Patient Days appears
in the Appendix and from this it will be seen that August
1918 was the month in which the hospital did most work.
During the three years' work of the hospital the total number
of Patient Days was 141,852.

Ward routine began with the morning wash by the night
staff. This staff consisted of a Night Superintendent, a
floor nurse, a Frenchwoman trained as an assistant, and two
night orderlies, later, as the scarcity of men increased,
reduced to one. The Medical Officer of the day always
slept in the hospital ; in fact all the medical staff was accom-
modated in the main hospital buildings as far as possible,
including Mr. Gage, who, in addition to being the X-ray
operator, had charge of the dispensary.

IN FULL SWING 33

Breakfast was served to the patients at 7 o'clock. At
8.30 the doctors started their rounds. There was usually
a doctor in charge of each of the four floors, with two to
the big ward of a hundred beds at the top of the building.
Each floor was under a charge nurse, who was assisted
by other certificated nurses and V.A.D.s. The Medecin-
Chef made it his rule to see every case in the hospital every
other day.

Dinner was at 11.30. Some member of the management
staff put in a periodic appearance at dinner-time to see
that the quality of each meal was good and the quantity
sufficient.

Complaints from any of the patients were very rare. I
remember one such occasion, when I at once went to
interview the man. His chief grievance was that there were
no potatoes, that he was being constantly served with carrots
and turnips which were only fit for donkeys and rabbits,
that they always had potatoes in the trenches. Mr. Fraser
and I pointed out to him that there was a great shortage
of potatoes and that our dejeuner at the Officers' Mess
would be precisely the same as his own dinner. We added
that, of course, he knew the army regulations, that he could
send in his complaint to the proper authorities and that we
should welcome an investigation. This man was something
of an anarchist and was certainly a disturbing element in
the ward. We told him that if he was not comfortable
there was no necessity for him to stay and that if he wished
it we would arrange for his transfer to a French military
hospital which was noted for its strict discipline and short
commons. At dejeuner we told Colonel Keller, who was then
M£decin-Chef, of the incident. Now Colonel Keller, being
an American citizen, had no powers of discipline over French
soldiers, but he was not without his resources. In the after-
noon he made a thorough medical examination of the man
and came to the conclusion that he was in a highly nervous
condition and required quiet. He had him removed to a
small single-bed ward and instructions were given that he
should rest there for a week and not take exercise in the
park although he was a walking case. The man knew, and
the whole ward knew, that Colonel Keller had been able to
get round the French military regulations and had given
the man a week's solitary confinement as a punishment.
Nothing gains the respect of a Frenchman more than to see
regulations successfully circumvented.

There was a large dining-room on the ground floor that

34 V.R. 76

would accommodate forty or fifty men, where the walking
cases were served. Here is a specimen me*nu :

Bouillon.

Ragout de Mouton.
Haricots verts — Pommes anglaises

Salade.
Pain — Fromage.

The menu of the week was drawn up by the Gestionnaire
and passed by the Medecin-Chef and the Administrator, signed
copies being posted each week in the dining-rooms. The
Service de Sante" issued a book which showed the amount
of food to be served to each patient according to his rank,
even fixing the quantity of salt and pepper to which each man
was entitled. In the first year of the hospital, when food
was fairly cheap and plentiful, we considerably exceeded
these allotments and we received from the Service de Sante
a broad hint that we were treating the men too liberally
and that the difference between our regime and that of other
hospitals was so marked as to cause dissatisfaction amongst
the French soldiers who were sent elsewhere. After this
intimation, instructions were given that the increase was
not to exceed twenty-five to thirty per cent. The French
Government was very tactful in the matter, thanking us for
our generosity to the men.

After the 11.30 dinner in the wards, all the men who could
be got into the open air on their beds were carried out, bed
and apparatus complete, from the ground floor and over the
bridges from the first floor. It was a great thing for a man
with a broken thigh to be able to see the green of the trees
and get the advantage of the warm sunshine. In summer
the whole park would be dotted with men who were able to
walk or hobble out on their crutches and you would see
many a card-party grouped under the trees. Nurses very
often provided big straw sun-hats and Japanese umbrellas
for the men who were carried out on their beds.

The patients' supper was at 5.0 and after that the pre-
parations for the night. The staff dinner was at 6.0 and
7.0. As far as possible, every nurse during her hours of
duty had two hours' exercise, wet or fine. This was possible
while we were fully staffed but, during the last six months,
when we were short of nurses, I am afraid that this excellent
rule was not always carried out.

Once a patient has been established in his ward, each day

IN FULL SWING 35

in a hospital is alike, broken perhaps on Sunday by the
visit of relatives and friends. Even to some, who spent
months with us, an X-ray inspection or a visit to the theatre
for a small assisting operation may have broken the
monotony.

As far as possible the most serious cases requiring the
heaviest nursing were allocated to Salle A., while the lighter
and walking cases were sent to the big ward on the third
floor. During the summer months, when the work of the
hospital was the heaviest, every effort was made to evacuate
the slightly wounded as soon as possible. These were
despatched to the various sub-hospitals and convalescent
homes attached to the hospital. One of the most important
of these, admirably managed, scrupulously clean, with about
two hundred beds, was at Corbeil, under the superintendence
of a devoted Frenchwoman. She had come from California
to give her services to her country at the outbreak of war,
leaving her husband behind. Those in charge of this hospital
spared no effort to make the men happy.

Our first knowledge of Corbeil arose through an amusing
escapade of Dr. Giles. Being a man full of energy, one
afternoon in the late summer he decided to go for a bicycle
ride. Having hired a machine from the village, he removed
his tunic, belt and officer's cap and bare-headed, with his
longish hair streaming in the wind, he dashed out into the
country. Arrived at Corbeil he was put under arrest and,
but for the fact that the stationmaster there spoke some
English, he might have been marched off to the barrack
square. The stationmaster telephoned to the hospital, and
an ambulance was despatched with another of the doctors
to identify him and give the necessary explanations. His
tunic, belt and cap were sent so that he could make a proper
military return to the hospital.

Dr. Giles was not the only person who made unpleasant
acquaintance with Corbeil. The last train from Paris
reached Ris about 11.30 p.m., and as there were no lights
at the stations they all looked more or less alike and on
more than one occasion members of the staff found them-
selves at Corbeil instead of at Ris. There was no train
back from Corbeil till six o'clock the next morning. Some
essayed a seven-mile walk back to the hospital, while others
took a night's rest in an armchair in the stationmaster's
office.

After men had been in the hospital for three or four months
the final evacuation was rather hard both for blesses and

86 V.R. 76

nurses. But the time had to come. All the military papers
were prepared, the medical history of the case written out in
French by Mile. Le Paulmier, the X-ray report and pictures
added to the dossier. The patient's old uniform and military
belongings were handed to him by the Gestionnaire. On
evacuation, no soldier ever left the hospital without being
provided with proper underclothing, socks and flannel shirt
and handkerchief, given by the hospital. Miss Caroline Duer,
of New York, gave the proceeds of some of her literary
work for a special fund for this purpose.

The last good-byes were said, a double handshake with
everybody all round and an " Au revoir, I'll come and see
you on my first leave," and many of them did. One of
the hardest last things to do was to have to firmly insist
that crutches and sticks to which they had become accus-
tomed should be left behind. It seems somewhat paradoxical
to say that I came to the conclusion that the happiest place
to be in during the war was a hospital. Were we not there
to repair, to give new life and hope ? Often we had the satis-
faction of knowing that the material we were dealing with
had bravely borne a share in the conflict and would not
be again called to enter the trenches.

While Dr. Kennedy inaugurated the hospital at Ris as an
effective unit, Mrs. Kennedy took charge of the diet kitchen.
In fact it is more truthful to say that Mrs. Kennedy was
the mother of the diet kitchen. She was the source from
which the idea first came and its success was due to the
thorough manner in which she organised and prepared for
this work.

The night that the first wounded arrived was the first
and perhaps the greatest justification of Mrs. Kennedy's
diet kitchen. The blesses arrived late and our French
chef, who had his own ideas as to arduous work, having
provided dinner for six officers, closed the kitchen and went
to bed. No provision had been made for feeding the seventy-
six poilus ; for all that Mrs. Kennedy, with the assistance
of some willing workers, saw that every one of these men
had his substantial supper.

This reveals a situation very difficult to be understood by
English people who know that no British officer worth his
salt, wounded or unwounded, would himself be fed and go
to bed without first seeing that all his men were properly
housed, fed and taken care of. But we, having once learnt
the attitude of the chef towards the poilus, never allowed
this again. Peremptory orders were given, accompanied by

IN FULL SWING 87

detailed instructions, as to the preparation of a proper meal
on the nights when blesses arrived.

Mrs. Kennedy was indefatigable in looking after all the
details of the kitchen and was most resourceful in the matter
of soft drinks for the men in the wards and would sometimes
surprise the Officers' Mess with an apple tart or a custard
made with her own hands.

In October 1915 Dr. Kennedy resigned his office as Medecin-
Chef as he was obliged to take up his duties in America
again. Besides very pleasant memories, both personal and
official, Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy left behind them at Ris a
practical memorial, the Foster Kennedy Arms and Legs
Fund. The farewell presentation which was to have been
given them was, at Mrs. Kennedy's request, used for the
purchase of artificial limbs and made the beginning of the
fund which, throughout the history of the hospital, was
always kept as a separate account. Any money gifts sent
to us with the request that they should not be used for the
hospital running expenses and not otherwise allocated, were
used for the Foster Kennedy Fund.

CHAPTER V

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON

WHEN Dr. Foster Kennedy found that it was impossible
for him to continue his stay in France, it was very much on
his mind to secure for the hospital a first-class operating
surgeon. He made many efforts in this direction, amongst
others with Dr. Carrel of the Rockefeller Institute, but
Dr. Carrel came to the conclusion that Ris was not
sufficiently near the fighting line as, for the purpose of
his researches, he needed to make observations on cases
from the earliest period. Dr. Carrel was one of the many
distinguished men whom the hospital was proud to count
among its friends. He was always most courteous in
allowing our doctors from Ris to visit his hospitals in order
to make themselves personally acquainted with the technique
of his irrigation system.

The fortunate co-operation of Lady Johnstone and Dr.
Kennedy, which had brought about the amalgamation of
our hospitals and the foundation of Ris, still held good as it
was through their personal knowledge of Dr. Joseph A. Blake
of New York that our difficulty with regard to a Medecin-Chef
was solved. Dr. Blake was an old friend of Lady Johnstone,
which made negotiations easy and pleasant. I remember
that when Lady Johnstone told me that she had secured the
promise of Dr. Blake to come to Ris she said : " I feel it is
our duty to give these French soldiers the very best that we
can get for them and if I had anyone who was near and dear
to me who required the aid of a surgeon, it would be Joe
Blake that I would send for."

I have always felt that it was particularly appropriate that
Dr. Blake should have been the first operating surgeon at Ris,
as Lady Johnstone's share of its foundation was her memorial
to her mother, to whom Dr. Blake had been medical adviser.

At the beginning of the war Dr. Blake gave his services,
as a volunteer, to the American Ambulance at Neuilly and
his devotion to the French soldiers had won for him the
admiration of the French Government and of all who came
in contact with his work. Many an English Tommy was

38

To face p. 38]
JOSEPH A. BLAKE, M.D

OP NEW YORK, WHO MADE RIS HOSPITAL
KNOWN THROUGHOUT FRANCE.

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 39

fortunate enough during the retreat from Mons and the first
battle of the Marne, to be picked up by the flying squad of
ambulances despatched from Neuilly to bring in the wounded
to the hospital there. The Neuilly Ambulance was one of
the first great volunteer hospitals to come into existence in
Paris and the contribution of its surgeons to the know-
ledge of war surgery was great and conspicuous. The
generosity of the Paris Americans made this work possible
and assured its continuance but, while giving the credit to
the donors and to the surgeons who so generously placed
their services at the disposal of the suffering, a band of
devoted workers should not be forgotten, the English
professional nurses and V.A.D.s who gave their services
without pay during the first year of the war, until it
was possible for the American committee to recruit their
nursing forces from the other side of the Atlantic.

Dr. Blake's acceptance of the position of Medecin-Chef
at Ris was, in my judgment, one of the most fortunate
events in the history of our hospital. At the time I was not
personally acquainted either with Dr. Blake or with his
professional record but accepted from Lady Johnstone and
Dr. Kennedy their assurances and personal knowledge of
his great capacity and skill.

From the first the relations that were established between
Dr. Blake and myself were of the most pleasant character.
Even a layman soon became aware of his extraordinary
ability and the strength of his personality was felt not only
in the operating theatre but in every ward in the hospital.
Not unnaturally during a co-operation of eighteen months
differences of opinion arose on details of organisation and
management, but I always felt that he was willing to give
ample time and attention to the discussion of any question
which might arise and he had a charming way of seeing my
point of view as well as his own.

Gradually from the mystery of the operating theatre
emerged stories of the quick decision and delicate skill which
marked his operations. It was undoubtedly his impetuosity
of judgment and almost uncanny genius of anticipation
which enabled him to perform operations which most men
would not have dared to attempt.

It was not long before he had won the confidence of every
poilu in the hospital and many a man who was nervous as to
his operation or had refused to be operated on, would go like
a lamb to the theatre, once he was assured that he was to be
the personal patient of the great man. If Dr. Blake had given

40 V.R. 76

a verdict that an operation would produce no benefit, that
verdict would be treasured by a soldier for years and quoted
to any other surgeon to whom he might come for treatment.

The whole organisation of the surgical work at Ris was
the inspiration of Dr. Blake. As we were specialising in
fractures of the femur, one of the first things to which
he gave his attention was the suspension apparatus to
be attached to the beds. He personally superintended
the making of the first set, by two of the woodmen from
Little Green, in the attic at the top of the hospital. The
Blake splints, designed by himself, were manufactured under
his direction by the local blacksmith. Dr. Blake did not
trust other people to make the models for his apparatus.
In his Paris home he had fitted up an effective plant. Here
it was that he made and experimented with surgical appli-
ances and he found this mechanical work a recreation after
the nerve strain of his surgical duties.

The suspension apparatus for the treatment of fracture
cases, while not the invention of Dr. Blake, owes to him most
important developments. Speaking of his early experience
in the war, he said :

" I believe the most distressing and disheartening of our
early experiences was our inability to treat gunshot fractures
with any semblance of success. We were handicapped by
the old and prevalent ideas as to the treatment of fractures,
first and paramount of which was the necessity for fixation
not only of the fracture but of the adjacent articulations.
As I have stated before in other communications, I believe
that the greatest and most valuable advance made in surgery
during the war was in the treatment of fractures. Hedged
in and stultified by the old precepts, we attempted to fix these
fractures in plaster and splints, only to find that the limbs
would rot in the casts or that the casts would become so
loose as to afford no immobilisation. I used traction at first
and then began to hang up or suspend fractured limbs so
as to overcome swelling and permit access to the wounds.
Gradually the present system, that was used by our army
and extensively adopted by the French army and by the
municipal hospitals of Paris, was evolved. Ideas and details
were procured from many sources, notably British; and at
the present time, or at least last winter, the further we
departed from the old principles of immobilisation the better
were our results. It will suffice to say that in our later cases
every joint was in motion throughout treatment, even in
fractures of the femur, and the patients retained complete

k* -N^

To face p. 40]

SUSPENSION AND EXTENSION AS APPLIED TO A FRACTURE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE THIGH.

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 41

function of their limbs and could use them normally as soon
as their fractures were consolidated." — [" Early Experience
in the War" by Colonel Joseph A. Blake. Read at the stated
meeting of the Academy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey,
October I5th, 1919.]

Something went wrong one day with the gas engine that
made our electric light and Dr. Blake and Mr. Joshua Bower
both descended into the underground darkness of the base-
ment, clothed in overalls, and spent three hours of unalloyed
enjoyment with machinery and oil. Mr. Bower avers that
this was Dr. Blake's happiest day at Ris.

Dr. Blake was a wonderful and daring driver and rejoiced
in a car of 100 horse-power, which someone christened
" Juggernaut." In this he would come from Paris in well
under the half-hour and would take the curves of the drive
up to the hospital at a speed which eventually wore deep
holes at the corners, much to the anxiety of Mr. Fraser, who
was worried as to the increase in the cost of repairing the
road. With this car came one constant visitor to the hospital,
Dr. Blake's beautiful Belgian police dog, Prince, who would
remain on guard for hours by the motor car. He was
stolen in Paris and I think his loss was felt nearly as much
by the hospital staff as it was by Dr. Blake.

During the summer Dr. and Mrs. Blake moved to a
chateau nearer to Fontainebleau and it was while coming
from there to the hospital that an incident occurred which,
if put into a romance, would be looked upon as somewhat
far-fetched. Dr. Blake was coming along the Fontainebleau
road one morning when, about four kilometres from the
hospital, he witnessed a motor accident. A high-powered
French Government car, coming from Paris, attempted
to pass a farm cart and too late saw a private limousine
approaching in the other direction. The brakes were
applied, the inevitable skid followed and the private car
was launched into the side of the Government automobile.
Glass flew in all directions and one of the ladies was seriously
cut about the face. Dr. Blake came up at the very moment
and offered to take on the injured passenger for treatment
at the hospital when, to his surprise, he found that the lady
was a cousin of his wife whom they had seen nothing of for
ten years. She was taken with her maid to Ris Hospital,
where it was found that the tip of her nose was nearly cut
off. When this was explained to her she remarked, " Joe,
you always told me that my nose ^as too long. Isn't this
the right time to rectify the defect ? "

y<

N

42 V.R. 76

The winter of 1915 was comparatively quiet as far as
our work was concerned but, with the coming of spring and
the renewal of the offensive on the front, the hospital began
to be more used. The authorities who regulated the dis-
tribution of the wounded had by this time become acquainted
with the great skill and ability of Dr. Blake as an operating
surgeon, with the result that the cases which were sent to
the hospital were of the gravest nature and required the
greatest skill and attention. I have always noticed in
connection with work in France that the officials are some-
what slow in recognising and appreciating what may be
offered to them, but that once they have satisfied themselves,
either as to the trustworthiness of the individual or to the
excellence of the institution, they will give both their
enthusiastic support.

Early in 1916 Dr. Blake made arrangements for several

5)ung doctors who had just finished their courses at the

ew York hospitals to come over to work under him.
Many of these young surgeons afterwards won distinction in
the U.S. army.

About this time Dr. Blake called my attention to the fact
that the place occupied by the nurses on night duty for their
much-needed rest was not sufficiently far from the inevitable
noises of the work of the hospital during the day. I made
inquiries for a suitable villa and was able to secure Rose
Cottage, near the railway station. Here we had accommoda-
tion for seven nurses, with a bathroom, sitting-room, small
kitchen and a large old-fashioned garden.

Miss Hunt came over to act as matron of the new Night
Nurses' Home and to make herself generally useful. She
was housekeeper at the hospital ; she looked after the diet
kitchen, had charge of the dry stores department, took the
place of any nurse who was sick and generally volunteered
for duty on nights when there was a heavy consignment of
blessSs.

A very welcome decision was made in February by the
Service de Sante. Ris-Orangis, so admirably suited for the
purpose, was to be made a surgical centre with the following
auxiliary hospitals attached to it :

Champrosay . . No. 9
Corbeil ... No. 245
Villiers-sur-Marne No. 97

Viry-Chatillon . V.R. 75 (Auxiliary Hospital for

Aviation Camps).

;

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 48

In May the ambulance work was enlarged by our under-
taking transport of wounded for the hospitals of the neigh-
bourhood.

The hospital at Brunoy was one of these. I visited this
hospital one summer afternoon and was taken over the entire
building. It had been built and was maintained by a very
wealthy Brazilian lady, who lived in the district, as a hospital
in the oldest sense of the term, for it was intended as a home
for the small tradesmen of Paris who had fallen on evil days
in their old age. Here, in a well-equipped building standing
in a beautiful garden which they cultivated, these old men,
broken in the hard fight of the world, found a refuge in their
old age. In addition to accommodation for these pensioners
there were hospital wards and operating theatres, where the
petite bourgeoisie of Paris could be brought for operation
when they were unable to afford skilled surgical service
and yet dreaded appealing to public charity. There were
two operating theatres, one for internal operations of an
aseptic character and another for septic cases, both so ex-
cellently managed that some of the leading surgeons of Paris
would ask to be allowed to bring their private patients to
the aseptic theatre for operation. During the war thirty
beds were allotted to French soldiers, under the care of a
resident surgeon and four white-capped nuns. I think that
this is one of the most charming private charities with which
I am acquainted. It gave help and comfort to a class of
people who are nearly always inarticulate in their troubles.

In January of 1916 1 went to New York, partly for a holiday
after the labours of organising and starting the hospital and
also for the purpose of organising support for the hospital
in America. I did a certain amount of personal canvassing
in New York, Pittsburg and Washington, but I found it was
becoming increasingly hard to raise funds by any general
appeal. I still possess, however, as a memento of my can-
vassing work in Pittsburg, a dollar note sent through the
Eost in a pencil-addressed envelope by a working man who
ad read an account of my appeal in an evening paper.

During my absence the management of the hospital was
left in the hands of Dr. Blake and Mr. Marsden.

I have gathered from many sources that the mixture of
nationalities in war- work institutions was apt to lead to many
difficulties and I cannot pretend that our experience at Ris
did not confirm this. My own observations suggest that
Americans and French or English and French often worked
better together than Americans and English, because the very

41 V.H. 7(\

dr.similnrily of idenls nnd lnii/_;unjjc made I lie pitfall:, more
.ippn. nl and therefore more ensily avoidahle. Tin pic
eoiK.iv.d id, .1 Id il Amerieans nnd Is'ir-h h speak n common
lan/'ii.i", was icspoiisihle for a eerlain amount of Inchon.
Anyone who knows h.>ih countries \\ill recognise thai llnie
an differ* nl meanings allaehed to many phrnsc s in eonsl nut
n sc .ind, mil. ss I IK :.< :ue un. l< i -.1 ... >d . misn IK h i si n ndin/'s nnd
i shade of coolness are likely lo nrisc.

\\ < , nl lu ., li.nl < MI i .h.i 1 1 ol si o rm nt id si res: . Tin n \\ < i ,
de.eiphii.n \ UK. i. in. . lied e.dhd fol'l h i . .< 1 1 1 1 1 « n I In. in tin
hotheads; soeinl points over \\hieh <lndli<nl spnil:. .split

mi o lie ice Inchon. . everyone who has lived in a. war hospital

l.iiou . hou .iidd. nl\ n locnl sojimll hl,.\\ . up out of Ih, I. In.
and ho\\ . Ifcelually I In .e minialure disl urhanccN often clear
I he mi. lenviii" no permnnenl ill feeling IM hind.

In n -.pi d ol de.eiplme \ve Inhoiired under peculiar dr.
advantages lu s < )ranp(is llospil.d \\.i. n 1'ninh military
In. |.ii d \\Hli .1 noil medical adnunisl ral ion. In a military
hospital Ih. IMedeein Chef he full and ahsolnle nnlhonl\
ovei every p» i -.on m I hat. insl il nl ion ; m .1 civil h. > |»i d I he
eoiiinnih. . . MI.* . eoniiol lhroii/'h il:. linaiieial p<.\\.i and
he. the appoint ineiil <»l nil IK .id . of departments. Neither

of Ih. .< I \\ ii j.l. m . could he ndopled in ih. enlmly loi ICe.
Dr. I'.l.d, u.i. nppoml<d l>\ lh< IM.in.i--.i-. hnl, not h, in-- .1
l-'i . m h oiiie. i . could not IM recognised l»\ I he l''reneh ( .. .\ . in
UK nl us IM m" .ol.l\ respoiisihle for the institution, Ih
Hlnk. was " i \ i nn hi:, sei \ K < . \ ohml n i ily nnd \\ .e . , IIIOM • >\ < t
n m. .-.I de.l in/'ne.ln d siirfcon, so lied il u.e. onl\ n-dil and
|>K'|>, i lli.il h. .hoiild lei\. n ••!. .M latitude in mnnn>'( IIK nl
and ...nl iol

I'.lloii . \\ , i. made to clearly ddine I he departments \vlneh

•.In.iild he controlled l»y the non m. .h. .d l.dl The kit* IK n.

I m ( r 1 1 IK n i oo m and n iol or depart men t came under I he. head

hul. even so, d was somewhat dillleull to r;< I umlomnlv of

.n I ion Suppose lied a trained muse \\eie, lor I he lime

In-ill';, in eluii". ol lli. stores, Was it loi the IMcdeein Chef,

who controlled all I lie limned nurses, «>i for I h< Mnnn;;. r.
lo i, ,..ke n elu.n

Another diUlcnlly arose mil of I he ncccssil\ for making
ml. . lo <-o\ern UK social eondiiel of the slnlf ll WJis lend
lor those who \\. i< u.cd to civil hospitals to realise Mini,

\\hiii Ih. \ e.im. lo \\oik in :i nuhl.MN hospil d III II loi, in
«-oiinlry. MK \ could not enjoy the same liherly when they
\vcrr oil dni \ .e. ih. \ lei.l h< i n ahle lo do at nome. \\ho
\\ :\ . the proper aulhorilv to make the rules? lien u.r.

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 45

another problem. If the Medecin-Chef made them, should
they apply to those who were not attached to the medical
staff? Dr. Blake was further hampered in this matter by
not living in the hospital and therefore not seeing the staff
in its hours of relaxation. Eventually a set of essential rules
was drawn up by Lady Johnstone, Dr. Blake and myself.
The basis of them was the order that no member of the male
staff should go outside the hospital grounds with any member
of the female staff. The object of this was to prevent un-
favourable criticism from the French population who might
misunderstand the frank friendship between men and women
which is accepted in Anglo-Saxon society.

I distinctly remember the black looks of some of the young
doctors after these rules were promulgated. I had a talk
with one young man who informed me with some heat that
he considered them unjust and uncalled for.

I said to him, " I am going to ask you to obey the letter of
this law in Ris."

I went on to explain that, if either Dr. Blake or I saw him
having tea or dinner with any of the nurses in Paris, we
should be perfectly blind but that he must not walk down
to the station or back from the station with her. Of course
no objection could be taken to a mixed party of four or five
going out together if they did not break up into obvious
couples. This explanation seemed to make the matter easier
and, by degrees, the rules worked smoothly enough.

In one way or another our staff managed to squeeze a
considerable variety of diversions into their hours oft duty.

Thanks to friends in the town they had the loan of a tennis
court which was made great use of; in warm weather there
was bathing in the river and the forest of S6nart was a place
of resort whose charms never palled. In the spring there
was a profusion of wild flowers and the nurses used to make
pilgrimages to the green glades and come back laden with
primroses, daffodils or lilies of the valley with which they
made the wards gay and beautiful to please the blesses.

'' The Hermitage," with its little green tables in the garden,
shaded by cut trees and boughs, was a favourite bourne
when the days grew warm and the evenings long and many a
small social function and little dinner were given here. The
walk back in the evening through the forest, a brilliant moon
turning the landscape into silver and changing the foliage
of the trees into a delicate network of lace, was by no means
the least pleasant portion of the outing. Paris, with its shops
and patisseries and the opera, was naturally a great attraction.

46 V.R. 76

Later in our history the coming of the American flying
men to Orly brought a wave of gaiety to enliven the nurses
and doctors in the hospital. The officers there very soon
instituted weekly hops and were excessively kind in send-
ing their cars to take out any of our staff who wished to
attend the dances. On one occasion one of the cars took fire
half-way between Ris and Orly and was burnt up. Happily
all the occupants got out without a singe, but I think it cost
the officer in charge of that car a lot of deep thought how to
wiggle-waggle his returns to account for a burnt car on the
Paris road the wrong side of Orly Camp.

During the summer of 1916 Dr. Blake was very ill and at
one time we feared that he might have to undergo a serious
operation but, fortunately, the worst symptoms subsided
although the hospital was deprived of his services for a
considerable time. During this period Dr. Kenneth Taylor
undertook the work of M6decin-Chef and Dr. Graves was in
charge of the operating theatre. We all much regretted
that Dr. Graves had to return to America in November of
that year, as his attractive personality and his technical
ability made him persona grata in the hospital.

Dr. Blake's illness had undoubtedly been brought about
by his strenuous work since the outbreak of war; only
those who were with him during that period really know
how much of himself he gave to each case under his charge.

About this time there were long negotiations with the
French Government for the enlargement of the hospital.
On this matter Dr. Blake and myself took rather divergent
views. I felt that it was essential that the future of the
hospital on the two-hundred-bed basis should be assured
before any extensions were sanctioned. Dr. Blake, on the
other hand, not unnaturally felt that he could do the surgical
work of a five-hundred-bed hospital just as easily as a smaller
one, as he had a sufficiently strong staff of assistant surgeons
to cope with the work. He used the argument that it is
easier to raise money for an institution in debt than for one
in affluent circumstances. Personally I did not care to put
this dictum to the test. The French Government made
inquiries with a view to buying a considerable area of agri-
cultural land just outside our park walls and erecting there a
large hut hospital. They also had the idea, if this project
went through, of permanently acquiring Ris for a military
hospital after the war. Many of the French surgeons had
become convinced that patients recovered more quickly in
country surroundings than in the city. However, the price

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 47

that was asked for the land was so high that the scheme was
abandoned. It was with regret that I received the news of
this decision as I should have been pleased had it been
possible for more of the French wounded to receive the
exceptionally skilled services of Dr. Blake.

On my return from America to take over the management
I was anxious to make a sharply denned line of demarcation
between the medical and non-medical sides. With this
object a committee was formed for the interchange of views
and to prevent the overlapping of various departments.
Dr. Blake and Dr. Kenneth Taylor represented the medical
side ; Mr. Fraser, Mr. Bower, Mr. Cobb and myself the other
departments. Later, the Gestionnaire was added to the com-
mittee, which worked satisfactorily throughout the summer
and autumn.

At the beginning of October 1916, I gave a dinner at
the inn to the oldest inhabitants of the hospital, those who
had originally come over with the unit or who had joined in
1915. We regretted the absence of Dr. Blake, whose place
was taken by his wife. Much amusement was added to the
evening by an ingenious device. The guest who replied
to one toast delivered the speech which was intended to
be made by the proposer of the next, thus leaving the last
comer in embarrassing possession of a speech which had
already been delivered. Corporal Wolfe of the French
contingent gave a magnificent performance on the violin.

We often had concerts in Salle O. M. Aribert was most
energetic in arranging programmes and there was no lack of
talent. Artists came out from Paris on many occasions,
affording solace and amusement to our blesses and, I am sure,
sensibly improving their mental condition.

Those who were too ill to be moved to the great ward were
touchingly appreciative of the playing of a musician-patient
whose marraine, as it happened, was one of our nurses.

In October, with the assistance of Mr. Fraser, a careful
calculation was made as to the expenses of running the hospital
and the funds available. By March 1917 the monies
guaranteed by Lady Johnstone and myself would be ex-
hausted and we were under contract to the French Govern-
ment to continue our work for the duration of the war.
Our relatives and personal friends had been generous donors
to the hospital, but the growing needs of every war institu-
tion at home made it difficult to make further appeals there.
To America we could look, we believed, for substantial
financial support.

48 V.R. 76

The whole matter was discussed with Dr. Blake and I
asked him if he knew of some American who would like to
take over the hospital and shoulder the financial responsi-
bilities.

Negotiations were entered into with this object during my
second visit to America, and by the time I reached England
on the return journey to Ris they had consolidated in the
proposition that the American Red Cross should accept Ris
Hospital and raise funds for it, Dr. Blake remaining at his
post as Medecin-Chef.

This was a practicable scheme and had much to recom-
mend it but, on my arrival in France, Mr. Fraser showed me
a letter from the Service de Sante to Lady Johnstone which,
while noting the proposed change, expressed a wish that the
present management should continue and offered us a new
financial contract to enable us to meet the growing increase
of costs. It ran as follows :

" MlNISTEBE DE LA GlJEBBE, REPUBLIQUE

Sous-Secretariat du Service de

Sante Militaire.
pre Division technique.

No. 1941 3/7.

Paris, le 23 Janvier, 1917.

" MADAME,

" Le Docteur et Madame Blake et Monsieur Oscar
Beatty, Directeur General de PAmerican Relief Clearing
House, m'ont saisi de propositions en vue d'une transforma-
tion de PHopital JOHNSTONE-RECKITT et du renouvellement
jusqu'a la fin de la guerre des fonds necessaires a son fonc-
tionnement.

" Ces propositions resident essentiellement dans la sub-
stitution a vous et a Monsieur RECKITT, de la Croix-Rouge
Americaine, ayant comme representant et mandataire le
Docteur BLAKE. Elles ne seraient d'ailleurs realisables que
moyennant 1'acceptation par le Service de Sante d'une
notable partie des charges que vous avez genereusement
support ees jusqu'a ce jour solidairement avec Monsieur
RECKITT.

" J'attacherai du prix a connaitre de vous-meme, pre-
alablement a tout examen de la question, votre sentiment et
vos decisions personnelles.

" Si, en effet, 1'hopital pouvait continuer de fonctionner
avec votre concours et sous sa designation actuelle, moyennant
les memes sacrifices que je serais amene a consentir pour sa
continuation sous 1'egide de la Croix-Rouge Americaine, je
considererai comme strictement equitable et il me serait

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 49

agreable de preferer la premiere solution a la seconde et de
conserver ainsi au Service de Sante la co-operation per-
sonnelle que vous lui avez donnee d'une fagon si devouee.
44 Veuillez agreer, Madame, mes respectueux hommages.

44 GODART."

After an interview at the office of the American Clearing
House in Paris with Dr. Blake, Mr. Beatty and Mr. Harjes
as representative of the American Red Cross, Mr. Fraser
and I had a long conference in which we took stock of the
situation in all its bearings. The upshot of our consultation
was the decision to make every effort to carry on the
hospital.

We at once communicated with Lady Johnstone, and she
and I cabled to friends in New York and received in reply the
encouraging news that a committee was being formed to raise
funds for the continuance of our work at Ris. The New
York committee worked with a will and the donations and
subscriptions sent through this channel were a prop to our
finances till the closing of the hospital on September 30th, 1918.
A few days after the interview in Paris Mr. Fraser, Mr.
Bower and I talked things over with Dr. Blake at the
hospital. We made every effort to get him to reconsider
his resignation, sent in after we had decided to keep the
hospital under the old management. Dr. Blake was much
moved by the personal confidence and affection shown
by those who pressed him to remain. He said he regretted
that matters had gone too far for him to reconsider
his decision, as his friends in Paris had already acquired a
large hospital in the Rue Piccini which was to be opened as
an American Red Cross hospital with himself as Medecin-Chef.
As the change was now inevitable, it was agreed that
Dr. Blake should continue in charge at Ris until March 31st,
to give the committee time to secure another first-class
surgeon. In order to show our appreciation of Dr. Blake's
services to the hospital we asked him not to sever his con-
nection with us altogether but to accept the position of Hon.
Consulting Surgeon. This he was very pleased to do and
he retained the position as long as the hospital was in
existence.

In a letter to me he wrote in April 1919 :

44 Now that the war is over I want to tell you with what
pleasure and I may say satisfaction, I look back to the life
at Ris-Orangis and our labours together.
E

50 V.R. 76

" I feel that the little hospital played a great part in the
War particularly in regard to the Medical Corps of the
American army. It was largely responsible through Colonel
Church and Colonel Keller for the treatment that became
more or less standardised when the army came over.

" I also wish to express my personal thanks to you for your
kind and thoughtful collaboration and aid during the time I
was there."

On Dr. Blake's resignation, Miss Robertson, our very
efficient Matron, sent in hers as a matter of hospital etiquette.
Dr. Blake had sent for Miss Robertson from New York to
take the position of Matron at the Ris Hospital, which was
another reason for her action. We were fortunate enough
to persuade her to withdraw it, pending the arrival of a new
Me*decin-Chef, and to accept a new appointment from him
when he should arrive.

Miss Robertson's loyalty to the hospital was unbounded.
After Dr. Blake, I feel that the success of this institution
was very largely due to her personality. Kind, considerate,
efficient, her heart went out in love to every one of the
suffering poilus. She was a strict directress in all matters of
ward-work and hospital discipline and a loving friend to
every nurse and orderly in time of sickness or trouble.

Before Dr. Blake finally severed his connection with the
hospital as Medecin-Chef we had the opportunity of enter-
taining him at a function in the big ward at the top of the
hospital. Among those present were General Sieur, the
Mayors of Ris and Grigny, and the Medecins-Chefs and
doctors of all the hospitals in the locality with which Ris
had been officially connected. On behalf of the committee
and the staff of the hospital, Dr. Blake was presented with a
piece of silver subscribed to by the founders and the whole
of the staff. We much regretted that Mrs. Blake was
prevented at the last moment from being present as we
should have liked to have tendered to her our thanks for her
work in the hospital for the French wounded.

Mrs. Blake was indefatigable in helping the poilus with
their letters, writing many of them herself. She had also
undertaken the organisation and provision of coffee, hot milk
and lemonade, bread and cigarettes, at the railway station at
Villeneuve St. Georges on the arrival of the hospital train.

The blesses gave Dr. Blake a souvenir on their own account.
Knowing his shyness of ceremony, they inveigled him into a
ward on some pretext or other and, after expressing their
gratitude in characteristic fashion, handed him a silver

To face p. 50]

OUR CHIEF.— 1915-1917.

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 51

Chantecler, emblem of France, a present to which they had
all subscribed.

In an article contributed to The Military Surgeon for
December 1919, Dr. Blake describes briefly his period of
work at Ris and, with his permission, the following extract is
given :

" In the fall of 1915 I was called to take charge of the
hospital at Ris-Orangis founded by Lady Johnstone and Mr.
Reckitt. This hospital was organised under the Anglo-French
Department of the British Red Cross. The lay staff and order-
lies were British ; the physicians and trained nurses chiefly
American. There were several English ladies serving as
V.A.D.s and I cannot speak too highly of their devotion and
willingness to comply with the American ideas of the pro-
fessional staff. My service there was in many ways ideal.
The hospital, a converted monastery, was admirably arranged
and supplied with water, gas and electricity. It contained a
little over two hundred beds and had its own ambulance
service. Shortly after I went there, the Service de Sante
designated the hospital a surgical centre (Centre Chirugicale)
and a number of outlying hospitals in the region were attached
to it as secondary hospitals, to which we could evacuate our
wounded as soon as they were convalescent and where we
could follow them and bring them back to Ris-Orangis in
case they needed later operations. The wounded were
brought in the hospital trains to Villeneuve St. Georges,
fourteen kilometres away, where our ambulances met them
and distributed them to all the hospitals of the region. The
fracture and severe cases were brought to Ris-Orangis, so
that we always had an active, interesting service, except
in the winter months, when warfare was practically at a
standstill.

" Our X-ray plant at Ris-Orangis was the best and most
stimulating that I have ever known. We were extremely
fortunate in that we had Mr. Gage in charge. He was an
Englishman, rejected on account of his health by the army,
but who did, I believe, as valuable and as much work as any
one in the R.A.M.C. He was a born investigator and an
excellent physicist, always inventing and improving upon
current methods. His method of localisation is, I think,
the most accurate, simple and practical of any that I have
known. His work was so appreciated by the consulting
staff of the British army that they did their best to further
his endeavor to be accepted by the army, but without

52 V.R. 76

success. But if he had been accepted, such is the glorious
efficiency of all armies, he probably would have been assigned
to a labor battalion instead of the position of consulting
radiologist which they desired for him.

" During my service in Ris-Orangis I made an attempt to
introduce the half Thomas leg-splint as a transport splint for
the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield. I had
one hundred made and sent up to the front to be used in the
Postes de Secours. Some favorable reports came back to
the Service de 8ante*, but owing to lack of personal demon-
stration they were not received with universal favor. Later
the splint, improved by Colonel Keller so that the half-ring
could be folded, thus making it adaptable to either right
or left extremity and more easily transportable, was of
valuable aid in transporting our wounded from where they
actually fell on the battlefield.

" Eighteen more interesting and satisfactory months were
spent at Ris-Orangis, during which progress was made in
the methods of treatment of fractures and a great deal of
experience in the treatment of bone sinuses obtained. In
regard to the latter, I found that it was perfectly possible to
cure them at a single operation. However, to be successful
it was imperative to remove all the dead fragments of bone.
This can be readily done by first localising them by means of
stereoscopic X-ray plates. They should be removed with
care not to injure the growing bone more than absolutely
necessary and to leave the cavities so that they can become
obliterated. We never curetted sinuses blindly and, in fact,
did not disturb the granulations more than we could help.

" I left Ris-Orangis just before we entered the war to
organise the American Red Cross Hospital of Paris, which at
first was devoted to French wounded but later became
attached to our army as the American Red Cross Military
Hospital No. 2."

Of Dr. Taylor's work in the Laboratory, more fully described
in Chapter VI, Dr. Blake says :

" The Robert Goelet Research Laboratory, which Dr.
Kenneth Taylor and I organised at the American Ambulance,
naturally followed us to Ris-Orangis. Dr. Taylor continued
his work on gas gangrene and made a number of interesting
and valuable observations on the anaerobic infections, one of
which was the persistence of bacteria in the interior of dead
fragments of bone. Sequestra, as they are generally called,
could be soaked for hours in the strongest antiseptics, after

JOSEPH BLAKE, SURGEON 53

which cultures of tetanus and other bacteria could be obtained
from their interior. This observation throws some light on
the occurrence of late tetanus. We also carried out an
extensive series of comparisons between the different methods
of wound treatment, chiefly putting the Carrel-Dakin against
other methods. The results of our investigations led us to
the conclusion that no one treatment was a panacea, but that
a judicious selection or combination was the more successful.
In fact, I am convinced that the only treatment for wounds
that can be said to approach a panacea is direct sunlight.

" The notable event of that year was the discovery by
Dr. Kenneth Taylor, then pathologist and director of the
laboratory of the American Ambulance, of the pathogenesis
of gas gangrene. Although elaborated later, his theory and
description of the disease was the first which enabled us to
develop a rational treatment of the disease, namely, the
excision of devitalised and infected muscle tissue."

CHAPTER VI

ENEMIES WITHIN OUR GATES

WHEN Dr. Blake came to us from the American Ambulance
at Neuilly, there came with him the Robert Walton Goelet
Research Laboratory, founded by a gift from Mr. Robert
Walton Goelet to Dr. Blake and dedicated to the study of
wound infections.

The laboratory was installed at Ris on the second floor in
three rooms facing south, well equipped for bacteriological
and pathological work. Major Kenneth Taylor, the path-
ologist, was in charge, Miss Mary Davies was bacteriologist;
Miss Carver, secretary, and there was an orderly, Stanton,
whose duty it was to clean the tubes, etc., and prepare the
post-mortems. Later the staff was joined by a chemist,
Mr. Magee, from Queen's University, Belfast, Dr. B. H.
Buxton, who very kindly took a house at Ris in order to help
us with his great experience in bacteriology and, finally, in
1917, Dr. Holman came over from America in order to do
some special research work. The work was twofold. In the
first place, the surgeons were assisted in diagnosing the cases
by the ordinary laboratory routine methods ; and secondly,
a number of original experiments were embarked on, chiefly
directed towards obtaining knowledge of the action of anti-
septics upon the different bacteria infecting the wounds.
These researches were published upon completion; usually
in the Lancet, the British Medical Journal or the Journal for
Bacteriology.

War surgery differed from civil practice in that there was
hardly a case in which extraneous matter in the form of dirt
and bacteria had not been introduced into the wound. Take
a fractured leg for an example. In the majority of such
accidents in civil life the bone alone would be broken and in
most cases the skin would not even have been grazed. But
in war most fractures have been caused by some projectile
entering from outside, causing, in addition to the fracture of
the bone, terrible laceration of the flesh. What the piece of

54

ENEMIES WITHIN OUR GATES 55

shrapnel or shell fragment had introduced with it could only
be known later by careful investigation and here the Goelet
Laboratory had scope for much valuable work.

The great dangers from wound infection are tetanus, gas
gangrene, osteomyelitis and septicaemia.

Tetanus cases were comparatively rare, owing to the routine
practice of giving antitoxin injections to each case as a
precautionary measure. Gas gangrene, if it occurred, usually
declared itself during the first few days after arrival in men
deeply wounded in the fleshy parts of the body and, unless
detected and checked in time, carried them off very quickly.
We were perpetually on the look-out for it. Recent wounds
almost invariably contain the organisms that give rise to
this disease and it was often a question whether to sacrifice
a limb in order to avoid danger to life as, once the disease
was established, it spread with extraordinary rapidity. Yet,
in many cases, it was possible to save both life and limb by
a thorough cleansing of the wound. The cases suffering
from streptococcal infection were more insidious, though
equally dangerous. I believe we lost more men from this
cause than from any other, but the specific bacteria which
caused the various symptoms were found in the great majority
of examinations. In every case the bacteriological report is
an important contribution to the mass of information which
has to be considered by the surgeon as a basis for his
decision.

Dr. Taylor made a systematic study of the action of various
types of antiseptics in relation to the bacteria of wound
infections, which was carried over a long period of time —
six months, I think. He wanted to find out whether any
particular form of infection disappeared more rapidly under
one treatment than under another. A number of beds were
devoted to each kind of antiseptic and the examinations were
taken weekly and compared with one another. These results
were published in full.

Dr. Taylor went to America in the winter of 1915 and Miss
Davies was in charge until the spring of the next year. It
was in those days that she began experimenting with a view
to finding out whether it would be possible to impregnate the
uniforms and underclothing of soldiers with an antiseptic
substance which would retain its properties in spite of exposure
to weather, as she thought it might at any rate retard the
growth of bacteria when, as was so often the case, pieces
of stuff covered with mud were driven into the wounds.
The experiments were completely successful. The Lancet

56 V.R. 76

published the results on September 15th, 1916, and they ap-
peared also in Les Archives Medicates, together with a paper
by Dr. Carnot, who had had exactly the same idea, only he
carried it out somewhat differently. Miss Davies was in
great hopes that a system would be introduced into the army
whereby the men's clothing could be impregnated with
antiseptic, believing that it might greatly reduce the incidence
and the severity of wound infections; but, although such
medical authorities as she was able to consult supported her
opinion, the government refused to adopt it on various
pretexts — so that it came to nothing. I believe that one of
the contributory causes to this failure was the fact that the
antiseptic that she had found most suitable for this purpose
was a patented article in private hands. In war-time every
government department is afraid of playing into the hands
of private corporations. To anyone who knew Miss Davies
the absurdity of the suggestion that her recommendation of
this particular antiseptic could have been influenced by com-
mercialism would be patent without a moment's hesitation.

As the war went on and surgeons became more experienced
they usually operated upon the wounds as soon as they could
deal with them, before infection had established itself, and
by this means were frequently able to get them to heal by
first intention. Experience taught them that the best results
were to be obtained by immediate operation for the removal
of dirt and devitalised tissue. In this way infection could
be considerably reduced and frequently obviated, the wounds
healing without complications.

To digress a moment, the beautiful white rabbit of the
laboratory department, which survived many inoculations
and experiments, was deemed to have earned his freedom
and was turned loose in the park. Sad to relate he was
killed by an ambulance within two or three days of gaining
his liberty.

An advanced case of gas gangrene is a sight of horror
never to be effaced from one's memory, and difficult it is to
conceive that it is due to an organism of microscopic dimen-
sions of which only a few need to be carried into the flesh by
a piece of shell, the latter devitalising the muscle and pro-
viding an ideal condition for this terrible assassin to grow
and multiply and kill its host. In reality it poisons him by
the toxins it produces.

This organism is present in the soil and, if introduced into
the depths of a wound, away from the air and oxygen, it
thrives and multiplies sometimes with amazing rapidity and

ENEMIES WITHIN OUR GATES 57

as it develops its pres ^nce can be detected by a very distinct
odour of its own anc it will eventually cause an inflation
and ballooning with discoloration of the injured limb which
is typical. The method of treatment was usually to open
up the injured limb by cutting deep down into the tissue
and thus allowing the oxygen of the atmosphere to come
in contact with the tissue. In cases of dire emergency,
amputation was the only remedy.

During the whole course of the war medical scientists
devoted their attention to an attempt to discover an anti-
toxin which should be as effective as that in the case of
tetanus. Dr. Kenneth Taylor and Miss Mary Davies were
well known throughout France for their persistent efforts
in this research. They did find a serum which, in the case
of guinea-pigs, was successful, but in the case of human beings,
unfortunately, was less rapid in its development than the
enemy which it had to attack.

Miss Mary Davies will always stand out as one of the
heroines of the laboratory in connection with this research.
Believing that the antidote for gas gangrene had been
found, she injected the germs of gas gangrene into herself
and then telephoned for Dr. Taylor so that the efficacy
of the antidote could be tested in the human subject.
Science demands the exact reproduction of a typical war
injury before incontrovertible conclusions can be drawn.
It was consequently said that the mere injection of gas
bacillus into a limb that was not lacerated and bruised did
not produce the conditions suitable for the quick develop-
ment of infection. Such criticism is no doubt accurate, but
it in no way detracts from the courage of Miss Davies, who
infected herself with this organism of gas gangrene in the
belief that by so doing she could carry a step further investi-
gation which might save the lives of thousands of English
and French soldiers who were dying day by day in the
hospitals of France.

It is interesting to note in this connection that gas gangrene
may develop remote from the first local seat of infection.
Several such cases occurred in the hospital and were investi-
gated by Dr. Taylor and reported at length.

The problem of combating infection was of pre-eminent
importance and the laboratory investigations contributed in no
small measure to the success with which they were able to be
combated. In a published booklet are the details of much
patient and productive work of a search to find antiseptics
which have a specially lethal effect on different bacteria,

58 V.R. 76

for the conclusion was early come to .hat one antiseptic is
not equally deadly to all kinds of infecting organisms. By
this means it was possible to select ',he most effective anti-
septic for the kind of infection present in any particular
wound and to this end thousands of examinations of the pus
contained in wounds were made and the most suitable
treatment chosen.

Special attention is due to two particularly successful
applications of the principle. One, fortunately effective in
the treatment of gas gangrene, was the use of a solution of
hydrochloride of quinine and the other of an acetic acid
solution which acted like a charm against pyocyaneus
infection. In some instances these solutions would be used
by the method advocated by Dr. Carrel, substituting them
for Dakin solution, which is so closely associated with the
Carrel method, where the nature of the infection gave scope
for specific antiseptics.

Mr. Magee's special contribution was unique and was
published in the Edinburgh Medical Journal of Feb. 1917,
under the title of " A Comparison of some Antiseptics in
respect to their Diffusibility, Action on Leucocytes, and
Action on Ferment Activity." This work of research was an
important contribution to our knowledge of the action of
antiseptic when applied to wounds, and proved conclusively
that many ideas previously current as to the value of some
popular antiseptics and their lethal effect on bacteria were
not so effective in a septic wound as in the test -tube experi-
ments upon which their value had been previously estimated.
Objections were proved against many of them, some having
their properties destroyed by their action on the tissues of
the wound itself, while others had a detrimental effect upon
the emigration of the special cells of the blood that are con-
cerned in the destruction of bacteria and wound repair, these
latter therefore hindering Nature's own protective and
reparative process.

Formidable enemies were the flies. They are a difficult
problem and were blamed for the appearance in our wards
of erysipelas conveyed to us, we believe, from some cases
that were known of in the village. An eternal war was waged
against them during the summer months by all the doctors.
Systematic inspections were made of the grounds and we
took pains to cover and remove all refuse and bury in trenches
tin cans and broken earthenware. Colonel Keller invented
ingenious traps, but our war on the flies was never entirely
successful.

ENEMIES WITHIN OUR GATES 59

Mention has been made of the terrible fracture cases we
had to deal with. At the invitation of Dr. Blake, Dr. Frank
Albee of New York paid us a visit in 1916 and we had the
honour of entertaining him, as during his stay in France he
made his headquarters at Ris.

Dr. Albee, eminent in his profession, specialised in ortho-
paedic surgery, notably in bone-grafting, for which he had
developed special technique and designed the double-circular
electric saw which bears his name. The Albee bone-saw
found tremendous scope in the casualties of the war, and on
his arrival its inventor was able to see in our wards Dr. Blake's
successful results with the instrument.

While in France he visited many other important centres
for the purpose of demonstrating the technique of the opera-
tion. He himself performed a good many operations at the
Ris Hospital. The extended practice of bone-grafting made
it difficult to meet the increasing demand for the saw.
Fortunately, we possessed one, a gift from New York.

Dr. Albee brought with him from America cinematograph
films of three typical bone-grafting operations and he
arranged, for the benefit of the Staff of our hospital, an
exposition of these films at the cinematograph theatre at
Juvisy. On that night every available ambulance and motor-
car was pressed into the service and practically the whole of
the staff attended to see the pictures. Invitations were also
sent to the doctors of all the French hospitals in the district.

It was very interesting to look round and notice the effect
of the pictures on the screen on the various members of the
staff. I noticed that many of the V.A.D.s, and even some
of the nurses, were studiously studying the contour of their
own boots. Mrs. Blake frankly covered her face with her
two hands. After it was all over Dr. Blake said to me :
" I've performed thousands of operations myself, but I have
never felt so near an operation as with watching these
pictures, and at present I could very well do with a stiff
brandy and soda." Next day the orderly in charge of the
operating theatre was off duty with a severe sick headache.

The series of pictures which were shown had been
specially prepared for demonstration before medical students
and showed every detail of the operation and the full
technique in a wonderful manner. The first was a bone-
graft in a leg below the knee, the second a bone-graft in the
spinal column of a tuberculous child, and the third a bone-
peg to fix the fractured neck of the femur.

The object of bone-grafting is to join, often to bridge, the

60 V.R. 76

gaps between the fractured ends of a bone, somewhat similarly
to the earlier process of plating. The latter primarily performs
two functions, it holds the bones in the position in which the
surgeon desires them and immobilises them by an internal
splint, as it were. Plating consists of screwing a metal bar
so as to hold the bone ends together and in line. The method
is still in use where immobilisation to maintain alignment
only is desired. This process has its inherent disadvantages
in that it sometimes brings its own sequel of troubles, and
may have to be removed by a subsequent operation.

Dr. Albee asserted that a large part of his practice was the
removal of someone else's metal work and substitution of a
bone-graft. The special application of bone-grafting in
war theatres is in such cases when the trauma and disease
has caused loss of bone substance and the graft is used between
two ends of the fractured bone, producing continuity by the
insertion of a piece of live bone taken from another part of
the patient's body. This is done rather on the lines of a
cabinet-maker's inlay, little grooves being cut in each end
of the bone and a strip of bone taken from the other leg of
exactly the right length and sutured into place. The wound
is then completely closed and sewn up and, should every-
thing be favourable and the patient be healthy, and no old
septic trouble start again, the inserted strip of bone will
become entirely adherent in the grooves at each end where
it is inserted and will gradually grow in the bridged space
so that a completely whole structure will be re-formed.

The Albee saw is essentially a double-circular saw with a
small space between the two saws and considerably facilitates
the cutting out of the strip of bone from the other leg of the
requisite length and breadth and the grooves for its insertion.
The desire is that this piece of live bone shall retain its vitality
and by virtue of its living cells and blood-vessels make a
bridge that shall contribute to the repair and by its growth
fill in the gap with solid bone.

Among the most successful cases of bone-grafting was
" Cheerful Charlie," who, in spite of the fact that at one time
he had a gap of over three inches in the bone of his left leg
below the knee, left the hospital able to walk perfectly on
his bone-grafted leg. It was our practice at Ris to send the

Satients who required bone-grafts to one of our convalescent
omes for three or four months and bring them back to be
operated on in the winter months when the ordinary work of
the hospital was at its slackest time.

One of the discoveries that was made in war surgery was
that germs of infection, including tetanus, often remain

ENEMIES WITHIN OUR GATES 61

dormant for a long time in the tissues that have suffered
invasion. The original wound may have become perfectly
healed and remain so, and for this reason a period of four
months must elapse before the operation of bone-grafting
can be attempted, and even then there is always the uncer-
tainty as to whether or not a septic condition would not again
develop and jeopardise the ultimate success. The longer the
war went on, the longer time did surgeons feel it was necessary
to postpone the operation of bone-grafting in order that the
risk of recurrent infection by these quiescent bacteria should
be reduced.

Quite early in the history of Ris Hospital it had become
the practice in all cases of secondary operations to give a
precautionary injection of anti-tetanic serum, which is so
effective against this particular organism. Would there were
such specific means of combating all types of infection. That
day may yet come.

War wounds are invariably septic and are a constant drain
upon the constitution of the patient, and from this arose
many discussions on the question of amputation and the
difference of treatment practised in some special cases by
French doctors on the one hand, and American and
English doctors on the other. To amputate the limb well
above the line of infection at an early stage was apparently
the approved practice of the French surgeons. Their line
of argument was, that the recovery of the patient would be
assured, that his system would not be thoroughly poisoned,
and a heavy toll upon his constitution obviated, thus saving
months and years of convalescence, and that if he was a
manual worker the loss of a leg would not interfere with his
earning capacity. On the other hand, English and American
doctors made every effort to save a limb. I always remember
one particular case of an Algerian. I have often been at his
bedside while his leg was dressed. The flesh was laid back in
great folds, eight or nine inches above and below the knee,
the whole of it suppurating. With every care and considera-
tion the daily suffering of that man for three months is hard
to imagine. Constitutionally he was slipping back the whole
time and, in the end, after three months of suffering, the leg
had to be amputated in order to save his life. It was only
just done in time. The man recovered from the amputation
and, from the time he got over the shock of the operation,
one could watch the return of colour and health to his face.
Within five weeks he left his bed on crutches.

To a layman it would seem that the English and American

62 V.R. 76

surgeons attached too much importance to the saving of the
limb while, on the other hand, the French doctors may have
been somewhat too ready to amputate. On the whole, I
think the first consideration should be the constitutional
recovery of the patient rather than the demonstration of
surgical skill.

Night duty had its peculiar anxiety in that nurses and
orderlies had always to be on the watch for the breaking
down of a blood-vessel, not necessarily only after an operation.
The danger of this was infinitely greater in a war hospital
than in a civil ward and was due to the sloughing off of
tissue owing to sepsis.

Thinking over the surgical work of the hospital I have
come to the conclusion that no war hospital of any size
which deals with serious surgical cases should be without a
highly-trained medical man on its staff, as distinct from a
surgeon. The complications of war wounds have such an
effect upon the constitution of the patient that this side
requires the most careful watching in addition to the surgical
treatment of the wound itself.

To face p. 63]

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. L. KELLER, MEDECIN-CHEF.

CHAPTER VII

AMERICA COMES IN : COLONEL KELLER AS MEDECIN-CHEF

ON Dr. Blake's resignation I at once wired to Dr. Lewis
Conner, of New York, to ask him to find a first-class
operating surgeon to act as Medecin-Chef and also two or
three assistant surgeons. Dr. Conner himself was suggested,
but his duties at Cornell University and the fact that he
was also a Reserve Officer in the American Army Medical
Service made this impossible.

Dr. Blake left us on March 31st, 1917, and during the
interregnum Dr. Evans of Youngstown, Ohio, undertook the
duties of Medecin-Chef. Dr. Evans was very kind and
courteous, a most agreeable man to work with. It was with
much regret that I heard that, shortly after his return to
America, he fell a victim to the influenza scourge.

At Easter 1917 we had a visit from Bishop Bury, the
Bishop of Central Europe, who gave us a very interesting
address, describing to us his experiences in Germany, he
having been allowed to visit the British prisoners of war at
Ruhleben. We greatly enjoyed this. He told us how cheerful
the men were and gave us the message they had given to him.
4 Tell the people," they said, " we are all right, we are not
downhearted ; tell them to carry on." The Bishop inspected
the whole of the hospital, expressed himself delighted with
all he saw. It was most heartening and encouraging to all
to know how favourably impressed he was.

During the months of February and March 1917, events
were hurrying America towards the declaration of war with
Germany. Dr. Conner found it increasingly difficult to find
anyone sufficiently at liberty to give his whole services for
any lengthy period in the capacity we needed. Many first-
class American surgeons were willing to come over to France
for three or four months, but there is nothing so demoralising
to an institution as a constantly changing head of the medical
service. After three or four failures, Dr. Conner got in touch
with the U.S. Surgeon- General's Office through Mr. Baker,
U.S. Minister of War. The Surgeon- General suggested for
us Major W. L. Keller, who had the reputation of being the

63

64 V.R. 76

best surgeon in the American army and he offered to send
with him Captain Card and Captain Edwards. As America
was not at war, these three gentlemen were to be given long
leave and come to Europe as private citizens in mufti.

The reason why the American army authorities were
desirous of sending over three of the best men of their per-
manent personnel was that, should America eventually enter
the war, some of their own surgeons acquainted with war
surgery under the new conditions would be already on the
spot and be able to impart the fruit of their experience to
their colleagues as they arrived in France. In this con-
nection I always remember a remark of Dr. Blake's, " I
don't care how good a man may be as a surgeon in private
practice, he is useless in war surgery until he has had at
least six months' experience."

When Major Keller received his appointment to Ris, he
was in Texas, on the Mexican border and he travelled to
Europe by the Spanish line from Cuba. His descriptions
of this journey are much better omitted than detailed. The
food was shocking and the three officers arrived in France half
starved. The cost of the passage was out of all proportion
to the comfort. The new Medecin-Chef reached Ris on
May 7th, 1917, and at once took up his duties. America
had entered the war on April 6th, so that the three doctors
had ceased to be private citizens and used their army rank
and uniforms.

Major Keller arrived in what, in war hospital terms, is
called the busy season. Up to the end of March the numbers
in the hospital were usually on the down-grade, as men re-
covered and were evacuated as convalescent. Unless there
was a very early spring, which allowed big operations to
take place on the front, fresh wounded did not begin to
reach us until the middle of April.

In addition to the heavy surgical work that had to be
undertaken, Major Keller was faced with the necessity of
tuning up the whole of the discipline and tone of the
hospital. One of the difficulties of the previous regime
had been that Dr. Blake was a non-resident and that
a great deal of the enforcement of discipline had fallen
upon the Medecin-Chef Assistant, often a comparatively
young man. From February, when Dr. Blake's resignation
was known, until the arrival of Major Keller, Miss Robertson,
the Matron and Mr. Fraser and I, were faced with many
small difficulties. It was therefore with a feeling of relief
that we found that Major Keller was a very strong discipli-

AMERICA COMES IN 65

narian and took the line that everyone had to toe the
mark or go. He was always fair and just ; he never insisted
upon the mere letter of the law, but did insist that all work
should be properly done to time and that authority should
be respected.

Soon after his arrival I was witness to a characteristic
incident. One of the surgeons was dressing a bad wound.
Major Keller, passing by, asked why a particular instrument
was not being used for that particular dressing. The answer
was, " I thought this would do and besides it saves time."

That man got it straight from the shoulder.

" It saves your time but it doesn't save the patient pain.
You're not here to save your time. Go now and get that
instrument. I shall stay to see that you do get it and use
it properly when you've got it. Never let this happen
again or you won't stay here twenty-four hours. I will not
have any man in this hospital given unnecessary pain."

An incident like this soon came to be known to every patient
in the hospital and confidence in the skill and kindness of
Major Keller was established among all the blesses. For
any foreign surgeon, working in a French hospital, when the
medium of communication by conversation is lacking, this
is one of the first essentials of success.

Among the early ordeals Major Keller had to pass through
were the visits of the French surgeons on operation days.
While Dr. Blake was our Medecin-Chef, all the surgeons
from the neighbouring hospitals used to come in to watch
his operations and his successor extended the same privi-
leges to them. It was the praise from these visiting surgeons
that established the Major's reputation with the French
Government, so that the Service de Sante* continued to
send to the hospital the class of serious injury requiring the
most experienced surgery, such cases as we were privileged
to treat during Dr. Blake's regime.

During the three years of the Ris Hospital a large amount
of work was done by our doctors for the civil population
in the village. Both the local doctors had joined the army.
One had been called up for military service and the other,
a man over age, had volunteered. Every class of case was
attended to, cut fingers, broken collar-bones and all the
maladies of childhood and old age. These cases were attended
to in the salle de pansements, over which Miss Niven presided.

After M. Aribert became Gestionnaire, a great deal of
the work of the out-patients' department, especially visiting
the people in their own homes, fell to his lot. We never
F

66 V.R. 76

kept any record of the number of daily visits at the out-
patients' department, but I should not be far wrong in
saying that over eight hundred cases were treated by us,
many of them coming day after day for a long period to
have their dressings attended to.

The Service de Sante was always well informed as to the
character of the work which was done in any hospital staffed
by surgeons of the Allied countries. Our hospital was in-
spected at least once a month by a Colonel of the Medical
Service and on many occasions when I accompanied him
officially on these inspections he would say, " Monsieur, it
is not necessary for me to go into every ward, but I must
mount to every storey. We are always so satisfied with
your surgical work here that it would be a presumption on
my part to scrutinise it closely."

Through what particular channels it was that the Service
de Sante was kept informed as to the surgical work of the
hospital, it is not easy to tell, but we always had the feeling
that there was some member of the French staff whose
business it was to make confidential reports.

In July of 1917, on the occasion of the official visit of
M. Godart to the hospital for the purpose of decorating
members of the staff, Lady Johnstone and I gave a garden
fete in the grounds. We were fortunate in having a glorious
day and Mr. Burdon-Muller had unearthed from somewhere
a local band that added to the festive character of the enter-
tainment. Tea was served on flower-decked tables and
M. Godart, after having inspected the hospital, took up
a position in the grounds under the long wall, the guests
grouping themselves in a large semi-circle around him.
After an address, delivered with the fire and eloquence for
which he was famed, he proceeded to present the decorations
and medals to various members of the staff.

The first to be decorated was Lady Johnstone, who re-
ceived the Medaille d'Or, Reconnaissance Fran£aise. Others
to be decorated were Mr. Fraser, Mr. Gage, Miss Davison, Mrs.
Excell, Messrs. Beer, Levitt, Simpson, Christie and Spiers.

From the time that Major Keller took charge, all the
difficulties of providing assistant surgeons was taken out
of our hands, he himself arranging this with the American
army authorities.

Early in June Major Keller was promoted to Lieut.-
Colonel and Captains Card and Edwards to Major.

We were not long to have their services as, soon after their
promotion, they were detailed to work with other units,

To face p. 66]

A DECORATION.

M. GOD ART PRESENTS MEDALS TO THE STAFF.

AMERICA COMES IN 67

Major Edwards going to the Johns Hopkins Hospital and
Major Card taking charge of the Medical Purchasing Depart-
ment in Paris.

As the forward units of the American army began to
arrive in France, the scope of Colonel Keller's work was
enlarged. He was appointed chairman of several important
boards in Paris and arranged that the post-graduate classes
in war surgery and X-ray instituted for the U.S. Army
doctors should visit Ris.

The Committee on Fractures particularly interested the
Ris Hospital, as this class of case was one which had received
special study and attention in the institution under the
inspiring guidance of Dr. Blake. Mention has been made
elsewhere of the irrigation treatment of the large wounds
which accompany almost all fractures in a war hospital.
When Colonel Keller came to Ris he adopted in its entirety
the method he found installed and in full working order.

The system of wound irrigation had been perfected by Dr.
Carrel of the Rockefeller Institute and most of the medical
staff at Ris were sent down to Compiegne to study under Dr.
Carrel the improved technique of this particular treatment.

During the summer and autumn of 1917 we arranged, at
the suggestion of Colonel Keller, to entertain for a period of
ten days three doctors and four nurses from the American
Army Medical unit as they arrived in France. They were
attached to us at the request of General Ireland of the United
States Army for the purpose of studying fracture cases at
first hand.

As the post-graduate classes for American army doctors in
Paris developed, arrangements were made for them to visit
Ris to see the cases that had been referred to in the oral
lectures. Mr. Gage, our Radiographer, also gave X-ray
demonstrations to these classes. Unfortunately, I have no
record of the names of the various units that came to the
hospital for short periods of instruction or of the numbers
in the post-graduate classes, though I remember that on one
occasion we entertained a class of over thirty majors.

When discussing with Colonel Keller the question of social
intercourse, he said, " Let us have as few rules as possible
and try asking the individuals as the occasions arise to see
matters from our point of view."

I had many interesting conversations with him on war
hospital management. He was kind enough to say that
he considered the system we had evolved at Ris admirable
for a short-period hospital. Under the military system,

68 V.R. 76

where the head of the hospital was both surgeon and ad-
ministrator, too much of his time was consumed in looking
after the daily routine which took him away from his patients
in the wards. Under war conditions, when a hospital might in
the morning have a hundred vacant beds and before night not
have a single cot empty, it was essential that the chief operat-
ing surgeon should be relieved from administrative affairs and
free to attend to a sudden influx of serious cases.

Colonel Keller was a great admirer of the work of the
V.A.D. and saw to it that all those who showed any true
aptitude for surgical nursing were given full opportunity
in this direction. In this he had the whole-hearted support
of Miss Robertson, the Matron. Throughout the history of
the hospital all the floor-washing, window-cleaning and hard
domestic work was done by femmes de chambre who were
recruited from the village. Many of these became ward-
maids and some who were with us for two or three years
were used as assistants to the nurses. Some also were used
in the wards on night duty.

For the first year and a half we had about seventeen
English orderlies, who assisted the nurses in each ward with
the heavier cases and with many of the more unpleasant
duties. Gradually this number was reduced so that there
was only one to each floor and their places were taken by
Frenchwomen who had been attached to the hospital for a
considerable time and had become proficient in ward-work.
As far as possible these women were all wives of French
soldiers serving at the front. Their wages were two and a
half to three francs a day without food to begin with, but,
as the war continued and prices rose, they got six and
seven francs a day. Under the second contract that we had
with the French Government nearly all these women were
militarised and their wages paid by the French Government,
which also provided them with holland overalls and mob
caps.

Several of the French contingent of soldiers worked as
orderlies. Zimmerman, a gardener, was one of the best ward
orderlies we had. There was also a French soldier called
Bousquet, who was with us for three years as barber. Each
blesst was entitled to a shave every other day but, for a
consideration, many of them had his services daily. In his
off time, when he was not fishing in the Seine, Bousquet made
a considerable income by his artistic treatment of the nurses'
tresses.

Our staff routine has been partly described.

AMERICA COMES IN 69

Breakfast for the day nurses was at 7.0; the first dinner
for the staff was at 12 o'clock and the second one at 1.0. The
dining-room was arranged like a Quakers' meeting with
division of the sexes. The largest table was allocated to
the nurses, V.A.D.s and other female members of the staff,
the second table to the doctors and X-ray department,
while I, supported by the office staff, presided over the small
third table, tucked away in a corner. The one social meal
of the day was afternoon tea at 4 o'clock where all grades
and sexes were allowed to mix. There was also an un-
recognised tea that was served in the nurses' sitting-room
at 10.30 in the morning. How this was contrived I never
inquired, but I believe that Miss Hunt in some way
managed to have a surplus of tea and sugar from what was
daily allocated for the afternoon tea. We always tried to
serve either bread and butter or biscuits in the afternoon,
as long as the latter could be got from England. During
the last two years the whole hospital was on rations, one
lump of sugar being placed in each cup and no more to be
got, a pat of butter on each plate at breakfast and every
other detail in the same way. Those who did not take
sugar usually made a collection of it for the station canteen,
which was run by Miss Robertson.

Dr. Blake instituted a hot dinner for the nurses and orderlies
on night duty. This was prepared in the diet kitchen by
the Frenchwoman in charge and those who had the benefit
of this wise suggestion much appreciated this departure
from the custom, usual in hospitals, of giving the night nurses
a cold supper.

From four to seven on summer afternoons many of the
nurses and doctors were able to get tennis on two courts
that were kindly lent us by French friends in the village.
Those who had half a day off once a week were able to catch
the 1.14 train into Paris and be back in time for dinner at
seven and go on duty. It was usually arranged that each
nurse had at least one full day off in the month and, of course,
when they were changing from day and night duty and
vice versa, they usually got a day off.

Sunday afternoon was usually the time when leave was
given to the English orderlies to go to Paris. Every member
of the staff, nurses and orderlies, leaving the hospital had
to have a paper signed by the Matron and the Administrator.
This was necessary as they were liable to be challenged both
by the English and French authorities at the railway station
in Paris ; it also enabled them to get military rates on the

70 V.R. 76

railway. This system was introduced as, on one occasion,
when we received notice that a hospital train was arriving
after the 1.14 train had gone, it was found that two-thirds
of our orderlies were in Paris. Happily the train was late
and most of them returned by the 7 o'clock train in time for
duty.

One of the criticisms levelled against the hospital manage-
ment has been that we were always over-staffed. As a
matter of fact this was so, when we could get the personnel.
It must be remembered that the Ris Hospital was in a
different position from the average war hospital, in that our
cases nearly all required special surgical service. Ninety
per cent, of them were grands blesses, many needed the closest
individual attention and this could only be given where it
was possible, in the graver cases, to allocate a nurse to two
or three special beds. The average of illness amongst the
staff was extraordinarily small and throughout the whole
period hardly exceeded 1 per cent., while I have known
hospitals where the percentage has been as high as ten.
With a fully adequate staff, such as we possessed, it was
always possible to give a week's leave to a nurse who was
beginning to show signs of weariness or nerve fag and thus
forestall those complete breakdowns which were far too
numerous under the stress of adverse circumstances. During
the last six months, when our staff was considerably depleted,
we suffered much more in this respect than at any other
period. On the medical side, the overstaffing of doctors
enabled the keeping of the most accurate returns and reports
and left time for special study and research.

Throughout the rest of the year 1917 the work of the
hospital was normal and satisfactory, the general feeling
and tone happy and contented. Colonel Keller's strict
military discipline left no room for intrigues or pettiness.

In January 1918 we were visited by Lord Dawson of
Penn, then Surgeon- General Sir Bertram Dawson. As he
drove me out from Paris in his car, Lord Dawson told me
that he was sick and tired of inspecting hospitals, but that
he would much like to meet Colonel Keller and discuss with
him the medical aspect of a certain class of surgical cases.
I left the two together, anticipating that a half -hour or so
to see three or four special cases would be enough. The
inspection took over three hours and I think nearly every
bed was visited. We were gratified that Ris Hospital should
contain so much of interest to a man like Lord Dawson, with
such a large and particular knowledge of war surgery. He

AMERICA COMES IN 71

was most flattering in his praise of the work exhibited in
the X-ray department. Some of Mr. Gage's lung radiographs
attracted his special attention.

In February 1918 we knew that Colonel Keller would soon
have to leave us. He had originally come for a period of
six months and he stayed, to our great satisfaction, for
nearly a year. He very kindly exercised his influence with
General Pershing at U.S. Headquarters and secured the
appointment of Major Penhallow of the American army, who
had been for three years Medecin-Chef of the American
Women's Hospital at Paignton in England. Before Colonel
Keller left we had a gathering of the whole staff of the
hospital in the top ward, where a presentation was made him
of a bronze figure of a French soldier. The same day an
official intimation was received from the Service de Sante
that the French Government, in recognition of his valuable
service to France, had presented him with the Legion
d'Honneur.

CHAPTER VIII

THE LAST PHASE UNDER MAJOR PENHALLOW

MAJOR PENHALLOW reached the hospital early in April
1918. Soon after his arrival we heard from Colonel Keller
that it was becoming more and more difficult for the American
army to supply us with a suitable staff of surgeons. Nearly
all those who had been with us were desirous of joining the
United States regular army. Mr. Fraser and I had several
conferences on the subject and came to the conclusion that
it would be impossible to continue the hospital at its high
standard, as all the medical men of any marked ability were
already in the service of their respective Allied forces.

About this time it came to my knowledge that Major Carrel
had evacuated his hospital at Soissons on account of the
German bombardment, and it appeared to me an appropriate
thing to offer the Ris Hospital to Dr. Carrel. He had done
distinguished work in war surgery, we had been in close
touch with him in the treatment of fractures and we felt we
should be doing a service to the French Government by help-
ing him to find a habitat.

I saw Dr. Carrel in Paris, and put the offer before him.
After considering the proposal he accepted it in principle.
He sent his Gestionnaire, an architect, to visit Ris and
then matters came to a standstill and nothing was done.
Eventually we were informed by the Service de Sante* that
Dr. Carrel had been ordered to take over another hospital and
the only explanation I could get was, that the doctor was a
French soldier and had to obey orders.

I had several interesting talks with Dr. Carrel in which he
told me that, in his judgment, war surgery as a whole had made
distinct advances, with the exception of abdominal wounds,
and the only advance in this department of surgery, shown
by a lessened mortality, was that in this war the hospitals
had been brought nearer to the firing line, thus enabling
this class of injury to be operated on more promptly. One
of the matters to which he was then giving his special attention
was the treatment of septic wounds that refused to heal.
He told me of two French doctors in the South who had been

72

LAST PHASE UNDER MAJOR PENHALLOW 78

most successful in the treatment of this class of case. He
said that there was nothing particular or novel in their method
of treatment, but that it was a matter of technique which
had to be rigorously followed and studied on the spot. It
was a great regret to me that I was unable to visit this
hospital before it was closed. At Ris we had many cases of
this kind and their treatment was, in the summer exposure
to the air and sun-rays and in the winter the Simpson S-ray
apparatus.

Dr. Carrel was to have taken over the hospital on June 1st,
1918. On May 25th Major Penhallow received notice from
the Service de Sante to evacuate the hospital as it was to be
handed over to the Union Nationale des Cheminots de France.
I at once took the matter up, as this came upon me as a
complete surprise.

At this time things were moving very fast. While we
were protesting and negotiating with the Service de Santa"
and sending a direct appeal to M. Clemengeau, military affairs
at the front precipitated another change. The Germans broke
through the Chemin des Dames on Monday, May 27th, with
a loss to the French of 20,000 hospital beds.

On May 30th, the day before we were to evacuate the
hospital, we received a telephone communication asking us
to continue to receive wounded. I at once called together
the whole of the staff and asked them to volunteer to remain
at Ris. I had a most loyal response to this appeal, every
nurse, doctor and orderly undertaking to do so if it were
possible. Many already had received appointments in other
hospitals and it was necessary at once to find out whether
these hospitals would relieve them of their engagements.

I had the kindest support from almost all the institutions
and societies to which our personnel had been drafted.
The Matron at the Hopital 222, Mentone, met me in the
kindest way and allowed me to keep six out of the eight who
were going to her. Miss Stimpson, the Head Matron of the
American Red Cross in Paris, liberated all the nurses she had
engaged and helped us to fill vacancies ; Captain Burlingame,
head of the Medical Department, put several doctors at our
disposal; the Matron at the Paris office of the Comite*
Britannique was most helpful in getting us nurses.

It was early in the month of May that I had announced to
the staff that the work of the hospital, under Lady John-
stone and myself, was to end on June 1st. It was one of the
most difficult speeches I ever had to make and my emotion
was shared by every one in the room. We all regretted keenly

74 V.R. 76

the coming to an end of a work well done, of pleasant associa-
tions and close friendships, the breaking-up of an organisation
which had grown into a solid unity, in which each had earned
the respect of the others.

I can still remember how cheerfully the announcement
was received on May 30th that we were to continue and the
feeling of satisfaction that our work was not to be inter-
rupted and that our services were still required. There
seemed all the difference in the world between closing a
hospital in the early summer when the country is at the
height of its beauty and in the late autumn with winter before
us, and winter in France is by no means a pleasant time.
The summer months meant a full hospital where everyone
was busy and therefore contented and happy. The winter
was a time of an emptying hospital, less and less work to do
in the wards and, to the Managers and Matron, the most
difficult period to control the staff.

Throughout June, July and August, we were extraordinarily
busy and the record of patients shows that more cases were
treated in these three months than during any other period in
the hospital's history. In fact the month of August, the
last full working month of the hospital, made a record of
Patient Days.

By night and day a constant stream of fresh wounded came
in and everyone volunteered to undertake all and every class
of work which the emergency demanded. At this time I was
constantly in the receiving-room, where the wounded were
washed and had their first field dressings removed. In spite of
the greatest care and tenderness the pain caused by removing
a clotted bandage which had been on a wound for forty-eight
hours was sometimes horrible. After seeing one man go
through this torture I made up my mind that it should never
happen again. I was fortunate in getting from my friend,
Dr. Hally Smith of Paris, a dental gas apparatus which was
afterwards used in all such cases, not only in the receiving-
room but for bad cases in the wards on the removal of
dressings after an operation. It was also found of great use
in the operating theatre by Dr. Emma Buckley, the
anaesthetist. Indeed I am at a loss to understand why this
simple apparatus was not provided at the very beginning.

It is very difficult to convey the feeling of nervousness and
trouble through which those who were in charge of a big
institution passed, during those summer months of 1918.
When the Germans had advanced as far as Chateau-Thierry,
they were within forty miles of the hospital and should they

LAST PHASE UNDER MAJOR PENHALLOW 75

proceed further in their attack on Paris their line of approach
would, we knew, be through Meaux and the south rather than
from the north. This would bring Ris and Juvisy in the
direct line of their course. We became aware that official
instructions had been given as to the evacuation of the
Retraite des Artistes Lyriques, the home for old Paris artistes,
and also for the Champrosay Tubercular Hospital, but no
official order ever reached Ris.

There were in all nearly 350 people connected with the
hospital and the motor ambulances which we had at our
disposal would not have sufficed for all our cot cases. Not
unnaturally I received advice from many quarters. One
suggestion made was that I should apply for three or four
empty coaches to be stationed at Ris railway station for any
emergency. In the end I felt that the best course was to
do nothing, because any overt action on my part might
precipitate a panic amongst the civil population of the
district as they would interpret anything that I might do as
being based on official information as to the seriousness of
the military situation. I remember one night in July when
every window in the hospital shook with the vibration of the
gun-fire at the front and many of the nurses came down
in the middle of the night to ask if the Germans were
coming.

From time to time various members of the staff were
attacked with what we always described as " front line fever " :
a feeling that they were too comfortable, that the real work
was being done nearer the front and that they were not
making sufficient personal sacrifices. This frame of mind was
always difficult to argue with. One could only point out that
the work we were doing had to be done and the only true
criterion of service was whether we were doing our work as
well as we could. It was a feeling which I could thoroughly
understand and sympathise with. The quietness and unspoilt
beauty of our surroundings made us feel that the horrors of
war about which we had heard could not be going on fifty or
sixty miles away. I think this longing to be nearer the front
took strongest hold upon those who had lost men who were
near and dear to them in the war and to those it was impos-
sible to put forward any argument to keep them at Ris.

In looking back with later knowledge of the private history
of nurses and V.A.D.s in the hospital, I marvel at the courage
and the quietude which they displayed when the news of
death of husband, brother or son, was brought to them.
There was no slacking of effort, no giving way; on the

70 V.R. 76

contrary, a greater determination and devotion inspired their
efforts for the wounded.

Meanwhile negotiations were proceeding with the Cheminote,
as to whether or not they would allow the hospital to con-
tinue. They had in July purchased the property from
Madame Brunswick at public auction. I made them an offer
of a rental which would have assured them a high rate of
interest on their purchase money, but this offer was declined
and the final date for the evacuation of the hospital was fixed
for September 30th.

The staff was thus again faced with the prospect of having
to look for further war work under other organisations. I
entered into negotiations with the American Red Cross in
Paris with a hope that if they were able to take over the
hospital and keep our unit as a nucleus, they might
influence the French Government to delay possession being
taken by the Cheminots. They were unable to entertain this
idea and a new suggestion was made that the Ris unit should
be taken over by the American Red Cross, lock, stock and
barrel, and removed to another hospital. This proposition
was accepted. At first we thought we should be sent to
Beauvais or possibly Chalons but it was decided that we should
go to Juilly-sur-Marne, near Meaux, about forty kilometres
north-east of Paris.

Juilly Hospital was founded in 1914 by Mrs. Paine Whitney
of New York and had been administered till 1918 by a com-
mittee associated with the American Hospital at Neuilly.
During the heavy fighting at Chateau-Thierry, Villers
Cotterets and Soissons the college building, in which the
Paine Whitney Hospital occupied one wing, was taken over
by the U.S. army and a 1500- bed hospital was established
there. The American army was evacuating the building
on October 1st and the suggestion was that the Ris unit
should go to Juilly and amalgamate with the American Red
Cross personnel of the old foundation.

During the whole course of the negotiations with the
Service de Sante as to the transfer of Ris Hospital to the
Cheminots I received the most cordial support from General
Fe* vrier in Paris. I feel, on reflection, that if the negotiations
had been conducted direct with the War Office through General
Fevrier, a different decision might have been come to and that
the Ris Hospital would have continued its work until the
Armistice.

Subsequent events have shown that there was really no
reason for the evacuation. The argument put forward at the

LAST PHASE UNDER MAJOR PENHALLOW 77

time was the necessity of getting possession of the building
in order to make the necessary alterations, as there were so
many tubercular railwaymen invalided out of the army who
required treatment. I visited the hospital in May 1920.
The work of reconstruction was complete, but there was not
then a single patient in the building. I feel that the special
advantages which the Ris Hospital offered to the wounded
soldiers were absolutely wasted and thrown away through
this unnecessary hurry.

Major Penhallow was our M£decin-Chef throughout the
last period of the hospital work. He was faced with many
difficulties : the difficulty of getting an adequate staff of
doctors and the loss on May 30th of some of the most experi-
enced certificated nurses, but in spite of all these setbacks he
maintained a very effective service in the hospital. This
although for several months he was far from well and was
suffering from septic poisoning. During the time that he
was unable to take charge of the operating theatre himself,
he was fortunate to have the assistance of Dr. Smith of Utica,
lent to us by the American Red Cross.

I have a sincere admiration for Dr. Smith's courage as an
operator. I remember one particular case, an American, who
had a terrible wound in the back and a large piece of shell
in his right lung. Ours was the fifth hospital to which the
lad had been sent. I think that the surgeons at the other
hospitals had thought more of their reputations than of giving
him a chance for his life. Soon after he came to us it was a
case of either operating or letting the boy die and Dr. Smith
said to me, " I think my reputation as a surgeon is sufficiently
good to have the boy die on the operating-table if I cannot
save him. At any rate I am going to give him a chance for
his life." The operation was entirely successful, the patient
made a wonderful recovery and was walking about again in
five weeks. There was an amusing case in Dr. Smith's ward
of a man with a piece of shrapnel in the region of the heart. On
three separate occasions the decision was made to operate and
on each occasion, directly the order had been given to prepare
the patient for this particularly dangerous ordeal, all the bad
symptoms at once disappeared and the operation was post-
poned. In the end he entirely recovered. In the same ward
there was a fine soldier of the Chasseurs Alpins, shot through
the back in the fifth or sixth vertebra and paralysed from
there downwards. The piece of eclat was removed from the
vertebra, thus relieving the pressure on the spinal cord
and then came the time of waiting to see if any change took

78 V.R. 76

place in his nervous activity. After about ten days the man
showed me with great glee that he was able to move the toes
on both his feet. Before he was evacuated he had regained
the use of all his limbs and nearly all his functional powers.

During these last months we had some cases of totally
paralysed men for whom nothing could be done. I remember
one man with a wonderful physique who was in the charge of
our senior orderly, and as we passed his cot the orderly said
to me : " Why won't he die ? why won't he die ? "

One afternoon I was called somewhat hurriedly from my
office. One of these men was fast slipping away over the
edge. His wife and father were with him and that afternoon
his Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre had arrived. We
could not wait till the next day while we sent for a French
officer to confer the decorations, so the ceremony was per-
formed at once in the small room containing his solitary cot.
The matron, the surgeon for the day, nurses and orderlies on
the floor, M. Aribert, the Gestionnaire, and myself filled the
small room to its capacity to do honour to a brave soldier of
France and to leave in the minds of his relatives the impression
that we, of other nationalities, were glad to do honour to
their man. M. Aribert read the citation and I pinned the
two medals to his pyjama jacket. We all saluted. The smile
of satisfaction on the man's face was his thanks to us for this
little ceremony.

During the last three months of the hospital's work we
had a larger admixture of nationalities than during any other
period. This was accounted for by the fact that, in addition
to taking a trainload of wounded at a time from Villeneuve
St. Georges, we undertook the emergency work from Juvisy
Junction. Here, the hospital trains going south, having
passed round Paris by the Ceinture, made their first stop.
They were inspected by French doctors and those cases that
could not travel farther were removed to a small hospital
within the station. Ris Hospital was then rung up on the
telephone and the cases given over to our care. I think that
we got a larger number of Americans than their medical con-
dition may have warranted, as the French doctors, knowing
that Ris was an Anglo-American hospital, would send the
U.S. soldiers to us in preference to despatching them further
south to purely French hospitals.

I have received from Major Penhallow a letter which refers
to his service with us. He says :

" My first impression of the hospital at Ris was in February

LAST PHASE UNDER MAJOR PENHALLOW 79

1917, when I visited it with Dr. Blake and, at that time, I felt
that it was a hospital which presented great opportunities
for the study of certain of the major problems of war surgery,
and especially in the primary hospitalisation of the more
severe fractures caused by the various implements of warfare
and which were associated with large open wounds and the
various forms and degrees of infection which usually accom-
panied such wounds. It was a hospital for major fractures
and this impression was strengthened as one stood at the
entrance to one of the large wards and noticed the veritable
forest of Balkan frames which filled the ward, each with an
arm or a leg suspended and held in proper position by a
clever arrangement of pulleys which allowed of a certain
amount of movement of the patient without disturbing the
position of the fracture. I little thought at that time that a
year later I would be on duty at that same hospital as
Medecin-Chef and have myself the opportunity of studying
the various problems presented in the treatment of a large
number of the most severe types of fractures caused by shell
and bullets, and be able to follow such cases from within
a few hours of the inception of the wound to such time as the
cases were either returned to duty, transferred to other
hospital centres or invalided out of the service.

" As regards my own personal service at Ris, after I became
the Medecin-Chef, I feel that I gained much valuable know-
ledge concerning the treatment of fractures by suspension
and extension and each day new problems were constantly
arising, as such cases as we had in the hospital could not be
treated by arbitrary methods, but each case was a problem
unto itself and, as a consequence, had to be treated individ-
ually. This was especially true of the more severe fractures
which were associated with large wounds of the soft parts.
Other types of cases which were of extreme interest were the
cases in which there was evidence of gas infection, either
incipient or else well-marked and such types presented an
extremely interesting study, as their treatment, either con-
servative or radical, depended upon the early recognition of
this type of infection. Occasionally also, but fortunately very
rarely, tetanus would develop in one of the cases in the wards
and thus add complications to a condition already complex.

" I personally regard my experience at Ris as one of the most
valuable periods of time which I spent during the whole war,
not only from the professional point of view, but also for the
many pleasant associations with, and the earnest co-operation
of, all concerned in the welfare of the hospital."

80 V.R. 70

With the 1st of September we began the process of final
evacuation and on the 15th we were reduced to half-a-dozen
cases on the first floor. One of these was in a. highly
dangerous condition and we were sadly afraid that our last.
evacuation would be to the cemetery. The other cases were
kept, as they were due for decoration and the medals had not
arrived. When they did come a forlorn little ceremony \vas
performed by General Dicudonnc* in the only ward then open.
Me very kindly mine from (Jritfny to ottieiat.c on more than
One occasion. He himself possessed all the French w;ir

decorations and it was therefore appropriate for him to
bestow the like honours on the men. It was on this last.
occasion that I received the Reconnaissance Frangaisc of t he
second class. Our good friend the (Jcneral omitted to kiss
me on both cheeks, knowing the prejudice of the English
against these salutations.

Two days later the final evacuations were made and we
ceased to be a hospital.

CHAPTER IX

OUR PATIENTS

To write about our patients is not easy. I am sure my
pen could never lind the right words in which to express my
admiral. ion for I In- soldiers of France whom we were allowed
to serve at His. All I shall attempt is to set down one or two
siories which occur to me as I put together the history of
Hopilal Mililairc V.R. 70.

\Vry common arc stories of strange coincidences that
have occurred during the war and some that have come to
my personal knowledge are remarkable. A French non-
commissioned officer was brought in and Lady Congreve
was struck by his very good English.

41 Ah yes, Madam, I speak good English. But is it not
extraordinary that I should be brought into an English
hospital in this war when I was fighting with the Boers in
my hisl. ? Hni. after all," he said, " the English were not such
a bad lot. They e;m<'lil me and tried me as a spy by court-
martial, but lure I am. They did not shoot me. The
Captain was a nice man."

Lady Congreve asked if he remembered the officer's
name.

il Oh yes, Captain Congreve."

It was her husband.

My eldest sister had a small convalescent home in England
for soldiers who were sent to her without any choice on her
part. She was much surprised on talking to one of the boys
and asking him where he worked before the war, to hear:
" I was liftman at Reckitt's starch works in Hull."

A man I know was one of three who joined the army
from a small village up on the Yorkshire moors above Picker-
ing. All went into different regiments and one night, in
Alexandria, all three found themselves in the same tent as
Bleeping companions.

One June Sunday my wife and I went to a fete and sale
of work at a hospital run by Grandpapa at the Railway
Works Depot at Juvisy. Part of the canteen department
o 81

82 V.R. 76

of the railway workers of the junction had been made into
the hospital; it stood between two main lines and seemed
to be the home of perpetual flies. Grandpapa was an English-
man by birth, who had lived so long in France that he had
forgotten his own language. He had a flowing white beard
and was a charming, kindly man. He was a great expert
on stumps and re-amputations and one of our ambulance
drivers made an evacuation from his hospital of eight men
who possessed only seven legs and twelve arms between
them. On this particular Sunday he asked me to inspect
the hospital and said that I might like to talk to some English
and American wounded in one of his wards. I gathered
round me the Englishmen while my wife sat on the bed of
one of the Americans in the centre of a group of her own
countrymen.

My crowd were quite ready to talk; a chance visit from
outside always breaks the monotony of a hospital ward. I
was soon greeted by one boy who remarked :
" Are you a Mr. Reckitt of Hull ? "
I said, " Yes."

Then he said, " You'll know Dansay Lane."
I said, " Yes, I do."

" That's where I live. I was a horseman at Bays before
the war."

Bays, by the way, has done the carting for Reckitt's of
Hull for the last forty years. He showed me his wrist and
asked me if I thought it was a Blighty wound. He had been
out since 1915 in the 4th East Yorks and this was his fourth
wound. We had a long talk about his officers, nearly all
of whom were personally known to me, quite a number of
them being connected with our firm at Hull; in fact two
companies of this regiment with their officers were recruited
from the office staff of Reckitt's.

In the German attack on the Chemin des Dames at the end
of May, there was fierce fighting in the region of Rheims, where
part of the 5th Army, that had suffered in the March advance
of the Germans towards Amiens, had been sent to rest. My
friend of the 4th East Yorks formed part of this English
contingent. About the second day of the attack, the English
hospital in which were three of the men I was talking to
was almost surrounded and the order was given that those
of the wounded who could get out were to make their escape.
Over 2000 cot cases were taken prisoners by the Germans.
My three friends started out when the Germans were about
nine hundred yards from the hospital. One of them was shot

OUR PATIENTS 88

through the knee, the other two through the arms. They
stuck together and walked seven kilometres before they got
their first lift in a camion. They appeared to think nothing of
having got the man wounded in the knee such a long distance,
acting as his human crutches. They reached railhead and
were despatched to the nearest hospital. At this period it
was quite impossible to sort out nationalities to their various
hospitals, as English, French and Americans were fighting
side by side in the same sectors. So it was they chanced
to be forwarded to Grandpapa's hospital.

Three Englishmen drifted into our hospital in this way
and Mr. Fraser had an interesting experience with the British
military authorities in Paris, with whom we thought it best to
communicate at once.

Having furnished the Officer in Charge with the names,
numbers, regiments and nature of wounds, Mr. Fraser was
met with the remark, " What do you mean by having
English wounded in your hospital? You've no right to
have them. You are to send them at once to the English
hospital in Paris."

Mr. Fraser quietly pointed out that before such an arrange-
ment could be carried out, many papers would have to be filled
in and even then the cases would not be moved unless the
Medecin-Chef considered it advisable, as we were a military
hospital and he advised the official to communicate with the
French Service de Sante. Mr. Fraser added that we knew
officially what to do in the case of Americans and Portuguese,
but that the English Government had not yet issued an official
circular dealing with the presence of wounded soldiers in a
hospital of another nationality. He further explained that
his visit to the British authorities was one of courtesy and
that, while he was an Englishman himself by nationality, he
happened for the moment to be a French officer and was only
taking orders from his own superior.

One corner of the big ward at the top was given over to
five American boys and at this period of the war I found the
American soldier by no means a cheerful person. He usually
carried a very large chip on his shoulder and indulged in a
considerable amount of grousing. I eventually found out
that the reason for this was that he was disgusted at being
knocked out before the show had fairly started and thought
he was not going to see the real thing at all.

One morning I went to visit this group and found a boy
from Washington B.C. down in the depths. I asked him
what he'd got to grouse about this morning and he remarked :

84 V.R. 76

" How can I go back to Washington and be a hero when I've
been shot through the belly?"

A few days afterwards an energetic Y.M.C.A. man came to
visit him, as the boy had been under his charge at the Sunday
school in Washington. Our visitor asked me if Mrs. Reckitt
of Braisne was any relation of mine. I told him she was my
wife, and he said, " I hope she got out all right. Do tell
her, please, that I went back again at half-past five and found
she had gone. I couldn't get back at the time that I promised,
as I had been held up on the road by the retreat." The man
had been stationed at Braisne railway station, and had
promised to take Mrs. Reckitt and her party of American
ladies, who were in charge of a canteen for French soldiers,
out of Braisne on May 28th when the Germans broke through
the Chemin des Dames.

The first Anglo-Saxons who came to us as patients were
two Australian soldiers put off at Corbeil and despatched to
Ris Hospital as being the nearest English institution. Their
condition was diagnosed as mumps, complicated by whisky.
They had at once to be isolated, but the notice on the door
forbidding anyone to enter was, I am afraid, more honoured
in the breach than in the observance. The French rule
is that no infectious case can be kept in a military hospital
and they were speedily evacuated.

On another occasion, about dinner-time, a weary English
soldier put in his appearance, having missed his troop train
at Corbeil and wisely made his way to the nearest English
institution. He was put to bed and given a good dinner,
but his clothes and boots were carefully removed as this was
the only method we had of making anyone a prisoner. Next
day he was sent into Paris to report to the military authorities.
The best we could do for him was to give him a letter from the
hospital, officially stamped, to say that he was perfectly sober
when he arrived and that his conduct while in the institution
was exemplary.

From time to time we had stray French soldiers, Arabs and
Moroccans, who thought that a hospital was a good place
in which to get a night's rest. Most of these had to be
refused admittance as they could produce no papers and were
probably absent without leave.

The chance comer who made herself the most welcome was
Jeanne the dog. Where she came from we never knew,
but she refused to leave us. She was always happy with the
French poilus and would accompany any of them in uniform
wherever they went, but she would take no notice of civilians.

OUR PATIENTS 85

She was a big, brown dog, and raised many families in the
institution. Her puppies locally were in great demand.
In winter she usually slept with the man who was in charge
of the electric light and heating apparatus. On one occasion
she was grossly libelled, being accused of disturbing the early
morning slumbers of the wounded by her barking, and the
highest authority in the hospital gave orders that she was
to go. No one had the heart to put her out of the way, so
she was taken in a closed ambulance on the road to Versailles
and was abandoned in the forest, eighteen kilometres from the
hospital. Within three days she was back again in the village
and remained with us till the final closing. Her future was
a matter for grave consideration and she was eventually
adopted by the nuns of the Champrosay Hospital and went
there to be the companion of her beloved poilus in blue.

Another pensioner who had to be provided for when we
left Ris was a poor old woman, nearly blind, who lived in a
little two-roomed cottage close by, trying to exist on five
francs a week. How she first happened to become a
pensioner of the hospital, I do not know. When my attention
was first drawn to her she had become an institution and came
daily to fetch bread and hot coffee. In September, when we
closed, a sum of money was left in the hands of M. le Maire
to assist her through the cold weather.

During our three years at Ris, the Rev. Stanley Blunt,
Chaplain to the British Embassy in Paris, or his curate,
held a service for the staff in the dining-room every alternate
Sunday afternoon.

One of our English patients was very ill, and on the Sunday
of Mr. Blunt's service he visited this man, who was a Roman
Catholic. Mr. Blunt sat down by his bed and said, " We
can have a talk if I'm not a padre of your own creed. Tell
me what you want and as soon as I get back to Paris I will
telephone to one of the English Fathers and he will come
out and see you to-morrow."

It was from members of the Foreign Legion that we got
the greatest diversity of nationalities among our patients,
Swiss, Austrians, Luxemburgers, Italians, Bohemians. One
officer of the Foreign Legion was the most decorated man we
ever had in the hospital. He had fourteen decorations,
including the Legion d'Honneur, which he had gained while
still a private. He had lost his right arm and nothing would
induce him to have his wife informed of the fact. I saw him
in the streets of Strasburg in 1919, but the crowd prevented
me from speaking to him.

86 V.R. 76

A few wounded Germans drifted in from the hospital trains.
These were always difficult cases to handle. I remember
one boy of nineteen carried into the reception-room. He
looked round like a rat caught in a corner. Gradually
this fear left him as he watched how the other wounded
were dealt with, and, when his own turn came and he found
no difference of treatment was meted out to him, his whole
expression changed.

We always had to lock up our German wounded, not that
we were afraid they would escape, but because we were
responsible for them and could not tolerate that they should
be interfered with. Our usual procedure was, as soon as
possible, to evacuate them to the special prison hospital.
One we had unfortunately to keep for a comparatively
long time, as his was rather a desperate case. I always,
in my mind, compare this German, whose life we were
able to save, and who never appeared grateful for anything
that was done for him, with a splendid American boy who
was brought in from the same train, for whom nothing could
be done from the first. He had lain out on the battle-
field for two days before he was found and by the time he
reached us gas gangrene had developed to such an extent
that operating was out of the question. He remained con-
scious nearly to the end. Mrs. Clapp, our Matron, sat with
him for those last eight hours and he said to her piteously,
" The world is so beautiful. There is so much I want to do ;
why should I have to die ? " I think the death of this
American lad went more to the hearts of the staff than any
other of those we lost. He was the only one of our own people
who passed away at Ris and he was so beautiful. A company
of soldiers was sent from the Orly Aviation Camp to give
him a military funeral.

Our officer patients were not numerous. Those we had
were apt to be problems, not always easy of solution.

In dealing with their diet we were faced with innumerable
difficulties as, after the rank of captain, the officers accord-
ing to regulations were entitled to an extra plat, and for
dessert a difference in the number of plums had to be
observed. So, not unnaturally, if we found that a major
or a colonel had been allocated to us we knew that we
were in for trouble. You could not place a private and a
non-commissioned officer in the same ward, nor an officer
and a non-commissioned officer. Captains and lieutenants
had to be kept apart and a commandant or a colonel was
entitled to a room to himself. We were licensed for seven

OUR PATIENTS 87

officers, but at one period had twenty-five. I remember
one night when a big contingent of French wounded were
arriving, two charming young lieutenants were in a fourteen-
bed ward and we wanted the other twelve beds. I went and
asked them if, for one night, they would object if I filled those
beds with poilus.

One of them, a bright, blue-eyed Norman, said, " Why not ?
We are all comrades," and the difficulties of the regulations
disappeared.

There was a full colonel on the same floor who, even in
midsummer, insisted upon having his windows shut and wear-
ing a night-cap. He was somewhat of a trouble, sending his
chicken down to be made warm and insisting on his dignity
in and out of season.

44 Cheerful Charlie " was a lieutenant who stayed with us
for a year and a half. When he first came he was a physical
wreck and, naturally, every allowance was made for the
constant gloom which earned for him his nickname. Our
first surprise was when he received the Croix de Guerre, and
a further surprise came when he was decorated with the
Legion d'Honneur. For weeks the future of his left leg was
in doubt, but Dr. Blake had made up his mind that he would
save it. Four inches of the main bone below the knee had
gone and his foot and ankle were also terribly wounded.
Very gradually the process of healing and drawing together
pursued its lengthy course. When a complete scar had
formed it was necessary to wait four or five months before a
bone-graft could be attempted. After his first convalescence,
he left us for a few weeks for change of air. On his return
he asked :

14 Who is now the Matron ? "

He was told, " Still Miss Robertson."

"Is she here?"

" No, she is away on a week's leave."

" Then whom do I make my complaints to ? "

The bone-graft effected by Dr. Blake was entirely successful.
Cheerful Charlie seemed entirely contented and satisfied
with his home and surroundings at Ris and had succeeded
in getting an order that he was not to be evacuated from
the hospital until he was completely cured. When Colonel
Keller came he took steps generally to clear the hospital of
pensioners. Cheerful Charlie had no desire to go to an
officers' convalescent home, and his favourite boarding-house
at Aix-les-Bains had not yet opened. He felt secure as his
leg was not quite healed. But trouble was not far off.

88 V.R. 76

M. le Lieutenant was occupying a four- bed ward when an
emergency case arrived from the aerodrome near Juvisy.
The patient was brought in wrapped in a blanket and informed
us that he was an officer. We had no means of verifying
this fact as his galons were not tattoed on his arm. He was
placed in the same ward as Cheerful Charlie. It was several
days before we could find out whether any bones were
broken, as he was just one bruise. Fortunately for him,
that was the extent of his injuries, beyond a few cuts on
his head and arms. All went well in the ward for a few
days until a violent discussion arose between the two patients
over the eternal question of a courant d'air, and it transpired
that the new inmate was not an officer at all. Then Cheerful
Charlie, remembering the army regulations, and now being
a captain, demanded as his right a room to himself. Colonel
Keller was equal to the occasion and gave him a tent in the
garden which he said was a perfectly constituted single ward.
Captain Charlie's first night there was not of the happiest,
as the mosquitoes discovered an entirely fresh victim. Within
a week he topk his own discharge and left us, after being our
patient for a year and a half, without any farewell to the
Administration.

Among the souvenirs that the nurses collected, none were
more prized than the autograph albums in which their patients
recorded their grateful sentiments, with the Frenchman's
inborn gift for expression.

A young Zouave, who had lived some years in England,
and mastered the language, wrote as follows in Mrs. ExcelPs
album :

" Wounded at Verdun on the 4th of May 1916 I had my
first dressing in the fort of Soulte after that placed in an old-
fashioned Ambulance we were taken or rather bumped to
the Motor Ambulance of the White House. Taken to Peigny
I met an English officer and gentleman who took care of me
and was good enough to share his meal with me, chicken and
a glass of champagne, it was corn in Egypt after no food or
drink for three days. Taken on to Revigny we passed a
rough night on boards, the next day we embarked for the
interior. Arriving at Ris-Orangis I saw an English uniform
in the train, so pleased was I, I asked to be taken to this
English Hospital my wish was granted. On arriving at the
Hospital I received and have been receiving ever since, the
best and utmost care one could wish for. The doctors
excellent men all of them and the nurses heros. All watch-
ing over you with the kindness of a mother. None of them

OUR PATIENTS 89

shall I ever forget and to dear Mrs. E. I offer the gratitude
and the thanks of only a French lad a poilu who tried to do
his duty like his comrades. Gentlemen and ladies who admire
pluck and heroism do not forget at any time to raise your
hats and bow to the Ladies of the Red Cross who helped your
poilus back to health and made the Hospital a home from
home.

" L. GENDRE,

" 44me Zouaves,

" Rosigny-sous-bois,
" Seine."

CHAPTER X

THE IMMORTAL DEAD

VERY sad were the evacuations that slipped through our
fingers when surgical and nursing care had failed. These
were laid to rest in Ris cemetery in a plot of ground specially
set aside for the soldiers of the war. Whenever I was at the
hospital it was my duty to attend these funerals officially
and to act as one of the pall- bearers. There were always
flowers and wreaths, the nurses never forgetting the men who
had been in their charge. Always also there was a little
company of the jeunes filles of the village who had formed a
society to care for the graves of the brave, and half-a-dozen
or more of them attended every funeral, bringing with them
a floral offering. These young girls are still carrying on their
good work and see that all the soldiers' graves in the cemetery
are cared for.

A file of French soldiers was always sent from the depot
at Juvisy and acted as a guard to the dead. Before entering
the cemetery their rifles were stacked and no volley was
fired over the grave. On one or two occasions at the graveside
of some officer, funeral orations were delivered by some
comrade and by the mayor of the commune.

All Souls' Day, which falls on the 2nd November, is observed
by the French with great solemnity, and on the Jour des
Moris those who had fallen in the war were specially rever-
enced. It mattered not where the isolated grave of a fallen
soldier might be situated, some Frenchwoman would find her
way from the village to place a few flowers there for
remembrance.

French, English or American, the fallen were all nos chers
morts. With a simplicity that touched me, M. le Cure said
once, after reciting the prayers for the dead in the Catholic
cemetery, "Monsieur, I will say the same prayers in the
American Protestant cemetery as here. It will not hurt
them, will it ? "

I think it worth while to describe le Jour des Morts of 1918
at Juilly (Seine-et-Marne). Here I was asked more or less

90

THE IMMORTAL DEAD 91

to take charge of the ceremony by the curi of the parish as
there were two hundred and forty-nine American graves in
the cemetery. We were able to arrange for a half-company of
American soldiers to attend, with a guard for the American
flag. Behind them came the American doctors, headed by
Major Farmer, then the nurses and orderlies and all the
wounded who were able to walk. We waited in the courtyard
of the hospital until the ecclesiastical procession left the church,
followed by two hundred boys from Juilly College and then
fell in behind them. Arrived at the cemetery, the curt
of the parish read the prayers for the dead in that part of
the burying-ground which had been set aside for the inter-
ment of French soldiers. The Mayor of Juilly followed with
an appropriate oration. Each French grave was decorated
with the tricolore and a bouquet of flowers tied with the
French national colours, the gift of the nurses in the hospital.
We then proceeded to the American burial-ground and
in the centre, facing a trophy of American flags, the curi
of the parish again read the prayers for the dead. Major
Farmer spoke eloquently of his fallen comrades and M.
1'abbe Dedieu, the Vice-Principal of the College, delivered
an eloquent oration :

" Quand les premiers Americains tue*s pour la France
furent ensevelis en ce champ de mort, M. le pasteur Saint-
Clair fit inscrire au coin de ce mur :

' Ici reposent les braves Allies morts pour la cause de
la Justice.'

" Le temps a deja efface ces lettres noires, trace*es par un
noble ami. Mais notre presence ici, aujourd'hui atteste que
le souvenir ne meurt pas. Anciens et tout petits, veterans
de la guerre et generations nouvellement arrive*es a la vie
d'homme, nous venons pousses par le sentiment de la recon-
naissance.

" Nous nous souvenons qu'aux jours sombres des mois
de mai et de juillet 1918, a deux reprises effroyables et tandis
que Tangoisse oppressait nos cceurs, a la vue des lugubres
convois de r£fugies accourus de la region voisine, et des
interminables colonnes de soldats Americains, se dirigeant a
toute vitesse, sur cette route de Juilly a Meaux vers des
destinations inconnues — vers la mort. . . . Nous nous sou-
venons quand ces jours notre foi patriotique tenait presque
toute entiere en ces mots : ' Voila les Americains, ils sauveront
la France. . . .' Et les fils de PAmerique ont, en effet,
sauve la France.

92 V.R. 76

" Mais cette redemption a necessite d'innombrables holo-
caustes. Oh, les superbes soldats que nous vimes a la bataille.
Et les magnifiques blesses que nous vimes revenir de la four-
naise. Us passerent dans not re chere ambulance, milliers
par milliers, affreusement mutiles et sanglants, mais radieux
et fiers, parce que, vers le bois Bellau, et vers Chateau-
Thierry et vers Soissons, ils avaient offert victorieusement
leur poitrine aux coups de 1'ennemi, afin de nous sauver,
nous qui vivions ici, a 1'abri de ce rempart. . . .

" Et maintenant, ils sont la, plus d'une centaine, qui ne
reverront plus jamais la libre Amerique ni leur famille loin-
taine — qui ne sentiront jamais, sur leurs pierres tombales se
poser les genoux de leur mere en deuil, et dont les quatre pieds
de terre, oti ils dorment leur dernier sommeil, ne s'humecteront
jamais des larmes benies de leurs petits enfants. . . .

" Mais nous ne vous laisserons pas dans ce triste isolement
de la mort, 6 freres, 6 heros, 6 redempteurs de notre chere
France. . . . Enfouis dans les entrailles maternelles de ce
noble pays pour 1'amour duquel vous avez choisi de mourir,
vous nous verrez, chaque annee, a pareil jour, renouveler
sur vos tombes la fraicheur de vos couleurs nationales et
1'amitie de nos couronnes funeraires. Nous serons pour vous
vos peres, vos meres, vos freres et vos fils. . . . Vous £tes
devenus, veritablement incorpores au sol frangais, une
parcelle de notre patrie, puisque c'est la cendre des morts
qui fait les patries. . . .

" Ah, notre reconnaissance pour votre sacrifice sublime
n'a d'egale que nos invincibles esperances. . . .

" Tout pres de toucher au port, et d'amarrer 1'anere au
havre de la victoire, nous tournons nos regards vers vous,
grands ouvriers de la bataille, et nous crions : ' Entendez-
vous, amis, nos fanfares victorieuses ? Voyez-vous vos
drapeaux, enlaces aux oriflammes allie'es claquer au vent,
s'elever sur un horizon de lumiere et couvrir un monde nou-
veau qu'ils abriteront sous leurs plis vainqueurs? Nous
voyez-vous, ici presents pour reconnaitre que par votre
sang est a jamais scelle le pacte de f rat emit e entre le
peuple de T Amerique et la race frangaise.'

" Oui, c'est notre esperance, notre certitude, que vous
voyez ces spectacles grandioses et entendez nos serments
de fidele gratitude. Vous n'etes point morts. . . . Vous
vivez. . . . Vous vivez eternellement. . . . Durant votre
passage ici-bas, vous avez lu ces paroles de 1'Ecriture, qui
nous est commune : ' Justorum animce in manu Dei sunt ;
visi sunt oculis insipientium mori ; illi autem sunt in pace . . .'

THE IMMORTAL DEAD 98

* Les ames des justes sont entre les mains de Dieu ; les
insense"s les croient mortes ; mais elles vivent dans la paix.'
Et ces autres de PEvangile : ' Beati qui persecutionem pati-
entur propter justitiam. . . .' ' Heureux, ceux qui souffrent
persecution, pour la cause de la justice. . . .'

" La justice. . . . Vous en futes les champions, les heros
et les victimes. Et parce que la justice a des droits imperis-
sables, parce que la justice peut sembler de*faillir a certains
moments, mais Pemporte a la fin sur la force, parce que la
cause de la France fut, en verite, la cause meme de la justice,
vous qui Pavez embrasse"e, defendue et sauvee, 6 fils de
PAme*rique, vous resterez dans la me*moire des peuples, comme
vous Petes devant le tribunal de Dieu, les justes par excellence,
les justes ay ant merite de jouir de la paix eternelle. ..."

Each grave was decorated with the national emblem of the
United States and a bunch of chrysanthemums tied with
American ribbon. Here the ceremony was concluded by the
sounding of the " Last Post " and the firing of a volley over
the graves. All those present silently saluted the American
as they passed out.

One afternoon a telephone message came through from a
certain hospital that they had just received an English
soldier who had been put off a troop train, on its way from
Marseilles to England. I motored over with Dr. Rhodes
to see the man. He was in a terrible condition, suffering
from pneumonia, and from the first it was obvious that
nothing could be done to save him. An American girl,
in charge of a Red Cross dispensary in the town, gave all
the time she could spare to sit with him, so that if he had
anything to say there should be someone who understood.
He only lived about forty-eight hours after he arrived at
the hospital. The French lady in charge at once communi-
cated with us, as she wanted the poor Englishman buried
as his own people would do it. We communicated with Paris
and an English officer and one of the curates from the
Embassy Church were sent down to officiate at the funeral.
When we arrived at the hospital, it transpired that the
town hearse was being used for another funeral, so it was
decided to use one of the hospital ambulances, and the
procession took up its way to the cemetery, orderlies acting
as pall- bearers. I think everyone from Ris felt the intense
loneliness of burying that English boy in the great foreign
cemetery. The French who were present were impressed

94 V.R. 76

by the individual farewell after the religious service was
finished, when every Englishman present came to attention
at the foot of the grave and saluted. Madame took charge
of the man's personal effects and forwarded them to the
British military authorities in Paris and promised to send
a photograph of the grave to the mother. To me fell the
duty of writing to the bereaved parents, who expressed in a
touching letter their gratification that everything possible
had been done for their boy in life and in death.

CHAPTER XI

OUR NEIGHBOURS

DURING our three years' stay we made many friends
among the people of Ris-Orangis and the locality. M.
Barreau, the Mayor of Ris, was a very good friend to the
hospital and Madame no less so. His advice was always
at our service to help us out of any difficulty and he lent
his official support on all occasions of ceremony. M.
Lemoine, the Mayor of Grigny, and Madame Lemoine were
constant visitors to the bless&s, to whom they brought gifts
of cigarettes, little Japanese fans, words of consolation and
a delicate personal friendship. I must not forget the Station
Master, ever courteous and ever hopeful about lost or
strayed packages, taking as keen an interest as ourselves
in the arrival of a consignment from London which had
been several months on the way.

The health and recreation of the staff were much helped
by the kind loan of a tennis court ; gifts of flowers, fruit and
wine came constantly for the wounded, and the Administra-
tion and staff were the recipients of so many acts of kindness
from our French neighbours, that I cannot chronicle them
here. To make a list of friends at Ris would involve some-
thing like a directory of the town and vicinity.

I have left to the last the mention of the devoted body
of Ris ladies who, two days a week, the year through, worked
in the Bandage-Room at the preparation of pansements and
bandages. The organisation of this volunteer working-party
was the inspiration of Miss Caroline Duer. Some of these
ladies also helped in the linen-room with the ordinary
mending, while Madame G. took home to her own house
many of the torn and weather-worn uniforms to be mended.
I cannot speak too highly of the continued devotion of
these Frenchwomen throughout the years of their tedious
and exacting labour.

The longer one lived in France and worked with the
French the more one appreciated the marked differences

95

96 V.R. 76

that exist between the Anglo-Saxon and the Latin con-
ceptions of society. It is in the home and the family that
the social life of France centres. The grandparents to the
end of their lives control the destinies of their descendants ;
they are the real heads in all matters of family property and
are treated as such by their grandchildren, so much so that
the family council under French law is enabled to control
the extravagance of a younger member of the family in
order to protect the family fortune. Club life, as it is known
in England and America, is an imported exotic in France,
not a native growth.

I have often heard Frenchwomen criticised because they
did not undertake war work in the same way and to the
same extent as was done by English and American women.
One often forgets that the freedom and liberty of the
young unmarried woman is, even in England and America,
of comparatively recent growth and reached its fullest
development during the war. In France, little of this
individual liberty had developed. Under such circumstances
it is not surprising that mothers would not be easily persuaded
to allow their daughters to become V.A.D.s and canteen
workers under conditions over which they themselves would
have no control.

At Ris we had the services of several French ladies living
in the place, but none of these offered to work with us
until the reputation of the hospital as a serious institution
had become well established. At the beginning of the war,
in 1914, when help in the military hospitals was a crying
necessity, many of the demi-mondaines in Paris did really
good work. A circumstance such as this made it impossible
for the better classes of Frenchwomen to offer their services
in a similar way.

On my personal observation is founded my great admira-
tion for the self-denial and hard work which the women
of France offered to their country's cause. In England
it was not until a year or a year and a half after the
commencement of the war that the women began as a body
to undertake war work, but in France from the 3rd of
August, 1914, the women of the bourgeoisie, the agricultural
and artisan classes had to take upon their shoulders the
commercial work of France. Every man of military age up
to forty-five was at once called to the colours and if the
work in the shop, farm or workshop was to go on, it was
left to the women of the house to organise its continuance
and this they did throughout the five years of the war.

OUR NEIGHBOURS 97

Later, hundreds of thousands of women donned overalls and
became munition workers. I remember visiting the great
factory in Paris of M. Citoyenne, who made the shells for
the famous '75 gun, where out of 16,000 or 17,000 employees
over 80 per cent, were women.

Many other classes of work were undertaken by French-
women without ostentation or parade. I passed almost daily
throughout my time in France a large room at the Gare de
Lyons, which I noticed was always ready with clean white
tablecloths, the tables decked with flowers, and all arrange-
ments made for a meal for the refugees who were constantly
arriving via Geneva from their imprisonment in Germany.
This work was organised and carried on by Frenchwomen,
many of whom made daily collections on the trains in a
quiet, unobtrusive way, a work which must have been most
distasteful to many of them and yet it was done because the
necessary funds to feed the children had to be found.

Many organisations for dealing with the orphans of the
war were organised by Frenchwomen. No great public
appeals were made; there were no Flag Days, but the work
went on; the money was raised, the workers gave their
voluntary effort and the children were cared for. It was
not the work, whether manual, commercial or charitable,
which was their greatest and most supreme effort. I think
that their most vital contribution was their spiritual en-
thusiasm, their quiet determination, their proud belief in
the valour of their men. The blacker the moment, the
brighter shone this offering of faith in France. Who shall
say it was not the beacon which lighted the way to
victory? I offer the women of France the homage of my
admiration.

Soon after M. Aribert became Gestionnaire, the French
contingent of soldiers was very largely reduced to meet the
incessant call for man-power at the front. This call was
also reducing the number of our English orderlies so that
it became more and more difficult to supply the requisite
number of men for the brancardier service. M. Aribert
organised amongst the men of Ris the first Volunteer Bran-
cardiers Corps formed in France. The men were all doing
hard work throughout the day but, at whatever hour the
call might come for their services, they cheerfully responded
and often, after having been on duty to assist receiving a
trainload of wounded, they would have to start their own
work at 5 o'clock in the morning. They were provided with
a suitable blouse uniform and a semi-military cap, and

98 V.R. 76

looked very smart and well-turned-out when they were
inspected by M. Godart. The last time that I saw them
in uniform, in their official capacity, was as they stood in a
solemn row behind the chair of M. le Maire, in the Hotel
de Ville of Ris when Lady Johnstone and I took our fare-
well of the town at the municipal reception we were given
upon that occasion.

Our opportunities to make return for all the friendliness
shown to our staff were few, but there were times when we
were able to include outside friends in our small rejoicings,
notably at the Christmas season, which we tried to make a
festive one.

Christmas during the three years of the Ris Hospital
was a jour de fete, both for the staff and the wounded. It
was felt that something should be done for the nurses and
orderlies who were all so far away from their own home
circle and we could not well have a party and leave out our
French soldiers, who always rejoiced upon any occasion which
offered the slightest excuse for merrymaking.

Our first Christmas, in 1915, was presided over by Mrs.
Blake, who provided gifts for each blesse, every member
of the staff and the French femmes de menage. A great
Christmas tree was erected in the big ward on the third
floor and here all gathered to receive their gifts, to eat
little cakes frosted white and pink and to drink a glass of
champagne. My present to the blesses took the form of
bright red cumerbunds of flannel, two metres in length, and
Lady Johnstone sent gifts for the nurses. Mrs. Blake and
her assistants personally distributed the gifts and the whole
fete was an immense success.

In 1916, we had a very welcome guest, the wife of the
Norwegian Minister, Baroness de Wedel- Jarlsberg, an American
lady who was interested in the hospital through her friend-
ship with Lady Johnstone. Again we had gifts and cakes
and wine, enjoyed in an atmosphere of Christmas peace,
enhanced by the kindness and understanding of a sym-
pathetic woman who had a word of cheer and joy for
each blesse. Towards the end of the fete His Excellency
Baron de Wedel- Jarlsberg said he would like to make a
short address to the men and asked me if there were any
reporters present and if we were going to send any account
of our doings to the newspapers. Being assured that he was
entirely unobserved by the fourth estate, he delivered a
touching message of encouragement and admiration from
his democratic nation in the north to her sister in the

OUR NEIGHBOURS 99

throes of war, represented by the French soldiers who
listened to him.

This year we had a second fete held in the chapel at the
Gate-House, with another Christmas tree for the children
of the femmes de menage who worked in the hospital. This
was entirely arranged by the nurses and I think was the
inspiration of Mrs. Clapp, Miss Porter and Miss Niven.
There was steaming chocolate and buns, a useful warm gift,
muffler, mittens or socks, accompanied by some game or
toy. It was a very happy and intensely sticky party and
was enjoyed as much by the grown-ups as by the children.

The Christmas of 1917 was on very much the same lines
as previous occasions but, this time, we had a Pere Noel,
the secret of whose identity was never revealed, in long
red gown, white beard and flowing locks, copiously covered
with snowflakes. He caused intense merriment as he went
from one to the other presenting his gifts. I received
a very beautiful tortoiseshell cigarette-box, given me by
all the members of the Staff. I gave each nurse a silver
identity bracelet with her name on one side of the disc
and " Hopital Militaire Ris-Orangis " on the other; clasp-
knives to the blesses and cigarette-holders and fountain
pens to the male staff. Each femme de menage had a five-
franc note and a Christmas card. After the distribution
there was a concert and grand tombola, which was arranged
by M. Aribert.

The children's fete was repeated but this time it was
extended to all the elementary schoolchildren in Ris. They
came in charge of the schoolmistress and schoolmaster and
their assistants, the parents being rigorously confined to the
gallery. This time there were no cakes, as the making of them
was now prohibited in France, but they had bread and jam,
which made them stickier than the year before. The children
sang their songs and a tot of seven was lifted on to the table
to deliver her piece, a charming little speech of thanks.
Clothing and toys were given by the nurses, who had again
organised this fete quite by themselves.

This children's party at Ris has survived the closing of
the hospital. It was repeated in 1918 and 1919 under a
committee largely composed of the Ris ladies who gave their
assistance in the bandage-room and I am told that they
now have regular working-parties to provide the warm
clothing for the Christmas presents, while M. Aribert is still
one of the moving spirits in connection with this charming
fete de Noel.

CHAPTER XII

GOOD-BYE TO RIS

EARLY in September 1918 I went to Juilly in order to find
out how much of the Ris equipment it would be advisable
to move there. The Juilly Hospital had been running for
nearly four years, and in that time, with the best handling,
hospital material begins to show signs of wear and tear.
I believe it is a rule of every army never to leave behind
anything it may conceivably want and two American units
had swept through the building since 1916, so that Juilly had
twice suffered from the process of supplying the evacuating
Medical Corps with what they considered necessary, and the
U.S. Major told me that he thought anything I could bring
would be of use.

We therefore decided to take practically the whole of the
Ris equipment to Juilly. Having come to this decision, the
next question was how to get it there. I made application to
the American Red Cross Headquarters in Paris for the loan
of camions for this purpose and was told that it was out of
the question. I confess to having been somewhat chagrined
that the onus of the removal should be thrown upon us,
seeing that the whole of this equipment was a gift by Lady
Johnstone and myself to the American Red Cross. However,
I gathered later that the reason for the refusal was their
shortage of transport owing to the immense demands of the
American army for the offensive in the Argonne.

I was eventually so fortunate as to get the loan of two
small camions from the French Government — our own heavy
camion was out of commission— and we were then able to
organise a transport system which made a daily journey to
Juilly and back. We supplemented these two camions with
our own ambulances, which took the lighter materials.

As ward after ward was emptied the furniture and utensils
were gathered together, and those that were not more
than fifty per cent, worn were stacked in Salle A. ready
for dispatch to Juilly. Under the contract with the French
Government the beds and bedding had to be left at Ris,
but all the surplus linen which we had, as well as all

100

GOOD-BYE TO RIS 101

extra beds, was sent to Juilly, with enamel-ware, glass,
crockery, knives, forks, furniture, dressing-gowns, socks
and other garments, also operating-tables, surgical instru-
ments, the Dakin apparatus, and all the ward surgical
and medical supplies. We also took down many of the
wood partitions and all the long board shelving, also the
fittings of the Dispensary, as there were a good many altera-
tions to be made at Juilly and timber was now almost
unprocurable in France.

We had previously entered into an arrangement with the
Cheminots by which we had sold them all the fittings in the
hospital, such as baths, washhand basins and radiators, as
well as the invaluable Jumbo. We felt that it was hard that
we should receive no compensation from the new owners of
the property for all the improvements which we had made to
the building, such as the water and gas mains, the electric-
light wiring and the internal painting, to say nothing of the
complete renewal of the sanitary system. They frankly told
me that they had paid for these improvements in the purchase
price to Madame Brunswick, and that Madame Brunswick
received no compensation from the French Government for
having her property commandeered, as the French Govern-
ment considered that she was sufficiently compensated by
this increase in price, brought about by the improvements
made by Lady Johnstone and myself.

Before the final settlement with the Cheminots took place,
we had a long conference with their secretary and vice-
chairman, who brought with them their architect. The
presence of this gentleman took me somewhat by surprise, as
it had not been foreshadowed in the correspondence leading
up to the interview. I pointed out that I thought that I
was not being fairly treated in that they had with them a
professional adviser and had given me no opportunity to
bring M. Ford of Corbeil, our French lawyer, although
they knew all the technicalities of the French law, of which
I was entirely ignorant. I then had to listen for about
half-an-hour while the French architect belittled the value of
everything that it was suggested they should take over.
However, towards the end I was able to point out to him
that, while all these articles were certainly second-hand, the
value of second-hand articles had gone up a hundred per cent.,
and that we were only asking the price we had paid for them
three years ago and that the things gained in value since
they were there on the spot.

Eventually, after a somewhat heated discussion, which

102 V.R. 76

seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by the three Frenchmen,
and which Mr. Middleweek told me I must accept as being
the usual method employed in these transactions, we began
to get down to business, and the interview ended in harmony,
with the bottle of sweet champagne and biscuits so dear to
the heart of a bon bourgeois.

It was now necessary to allocate various rooms for the
property belonging to different owners. On the top floor
were the beds and bedding belonging to the French Govern-
ment ; on the second floor the property of the Cheminots
and on the first floor we kept a room sacred to the remains
of the quasi- Alsatian's property.

When we first came to the hospital, several of the wards
were already partially provided with beds and there was a
miscellaneous collection of other articles, scattered about
the building. My first decision was that all these things
should be collected into one room and not used. But
gradually when we were without a certain thing which
was known to be in the Kuentzmann heap, Matron, nurses
and others, with the plea that they were for the service of
the wounded, gradually took many of these articles into use
and, now that the hospital was coming to an end, the Gestion-
naire produced from some unknown place a Kuentzmann
inventory. Happily I had never signed it, and I declined all
responsibility for it. I pointed out that this inventory had
always been in the keeping of the Gestionnaire, that the
bulk of the goods had been stored at the Gate-House in a
locked room, the key of which was under the guardianship
of the Gestionnaire. M. Aribert accepted this position, and
proceeded to make voluminous notes against china, glass,
lamps and hot- water bottles, to the effect that they were
worn out in use and had ceased to exist. I was thankful
that his ingenuity relieved me of a great deal of trouble.

Towards the end of September, arrangements had to be
made for moving the personnel to Juilly. The American
army nurses were still there, so that the bedroom accommo-
dation was a problem. This was in the end solved by Miss
Palmer arranging for the Little Sisters of the Poor to take
in many of our nurses in their convent at Juilly.

I had definitely arranged to take over Juilly Hospital on
October 1st, but the American Major, who was then in charge
there, suddenly wired that he was leaving on the 27th of
September and wished me to take over then. I was able
to send over Dr. Garretson and Dr. Smith, thus guarantee-
ing that Juilly Hospital would have some doctors. By

GOOD-BYE TO RIS 103

October 2nd all our staff were at Juilly, with the exception
of three orderlies, left at Ris to complete the dispatch of our
belongings and six nurses at Rose Cottage, who were work-
ing in our emergency influenza hospital at the 57th U.S.
Engineers' Camp at Grigny.

One morning early in September, when we were hard at
work dismantling the hospital, Captain Lawrence of the 57th
Engineers, who had always been a very good friend to us,
came in to ask if we could help him in any way with the
influenza epidemic which had broken out in his camp. He
told me that for the last two or three days he had been
telephoning to Paris for help, without success; he had one
doctor and only one orderly not down with the grippe. In
July and August Captain Lawrence had lent us all his
hospital orderlies to help at Ris. He was very anxious
that they should be doing hospital work rather than loafing
round the camp doing nothing and we were very glad of
their assistance : now it was our turn.

I told him that we should be only too pleased to do
anything in our power to help him, and asked if he wanted
hospital tents.

He said, " Have you got such things? "

I said, " Four. You can have them."

4 They will be a Godsend," he exclaimed.

It was arranged that his camions were to be at the
hospital in an hour to take down all that was wanted to
establish a small emergency tent hospital. We sent four
tents, sixteen cots, blankets, sheets, pillows, hot-water
bottles and all other small requisites. Dr. Garretson and
Dr. Case at once volunteered to go down and at lunch-
time I asked for volunteers from the nurses, preference being
given to members of the American Staff. The nurses who
eventually went were : Miss Metcalfe, Miss Spence, Miss
Cowan, Miss McFadden, Miss Lyall, Miss Currie, Miss Threlkeld,
Miss Dewar, Miss Lyons and Mrs. Cross.

The condition of that camp was perfectly deplorable.
There were about six hundred men housed in wooden
baraques with double-tiered bunks on each side, the top
bunk coming comparatively close to the pitch of the roof;
they were far too low for proper ventilation. These bad
conditions materially added to the spread of the infection.
Captain Lawrence and his officers had, each day, got the
men who were not too ill to take their bedding and blankets
out into the open air and sunshine, and had done all that
non-medical men could do.

104 V.R. 76

By the evening the tent hospital was established, the
sixteen worse cases had been taken there, washed and put
between sheets and the nurses had begun to get some sem-
blance of order in the wooden bar agues where, for some
days, many of the men had been able to receive little or no
attention. It is no exaggeration to say that, when the Ris
staff went to Grigny, panic stacked through the camp. There
had been a number of deaths and the men felt helpless.

The following little incident speaks for itself. Early one
morning an American soldier called from his bunk to his
neighbours, " What time is it? " He was told six o'clock.
" Hell ! " was his remark, "it's two hours before the angels
come."

Happily both Dr. Garret son and Dr. Case were senior
in rank to the American Medical Officer who was attached
to the camp, so that within a short time order and comfort
were brought to the sick men. When our doctors first went,
there were between sixty and seventy cases and very nearly
two hundred passed through their hands during the two
months or more that this emergency hospital was in existence.
A little rest-house was erected for the nurses, furnished with
every comfort that can be got from army supplies.

Towards the end of October the nurses at Rose Cottage
were surprised to receive a visit from Captain Lawrence
and his brother officers. They came on a formal errand to
make a presentation to each nurse of a gold wrist watch,
blue enamelled and engraved with the nurse's name and the
grateful thanks of the men of the 57th River Engineers.
They brought cigarette cases for the two doctors. These
had been subscribed for by the men themselves and it was
their own thought, the officers only having the pleasant duty
of presenting the gifts.

A few days after our tent hospital was erected, Grigny
Camp was inspected by an American Medical Officer from
Paris and, seeing that the whole tent equipment was
U.S. army pattern and that doctors and nurses were all
American, he took it for granted that the needs of Grigny
had been supplied from some American army unit. As a
matter of fact our tent equipment had been bought by Lady
Johnstone in Washington in 1915 and was of the standard
American army type and bore the army mark. Of all the
pieces of work we did, I feel that none more fully returned
the kindness and generosity of our friends in New York
than the assistance we were able to give to American soldiers
in this emergency.

GOOD-BYE TO RIS 105

Another unexpected appreciation of members of our staff
was a presentation which took place shortly after the closing
of Ris Hospital when, at the Mairie, souvenir plaques were
offered in affectionate gratitude by the inhabitants of Ris-
Orangis to Miss Porter, Miss Niven, Miss M. Dewar, Mrs.
Excell, Mrs. Clapp, Mile. Douane and Mr. H. C. Gage.

After we had evacuated our last patient and ceased to be
a hospital, we were no longer under the strict rules of a
French military hospital which prohibited dancing and,
now that the large ward on the top floor was empty, we felt
that it would be nice to have a farewell dance, so that we
could return some of the hospitality that had been extended
to our staff by the American officers at the Orly Aviation
Camp and by some of the Engineers. We also invited our
French friends in Ris and Grigny and doctors and nurses
from Dr. Blake's hospital in Paris. The entertainment was
a great success.

Early in September I received an intimation that the
Municipality of Ris desired to tender thanks to Lady John-
stone and myself for our work at the hospital and to take
leave of us formally.

In the afternoon of Sunday, September 22nd, we all assem-
bled in the Town Hall and were ushered into the Council
Chamber, where were seated M. Barreau, the Mayor, the
members of the Municipality at his right and left, the
Brancardiers of Ris standing behind them. The Mayor
delivered an eloquent and touching address and presented
Lady Johnstone and myself each with a beautifully designed
bronze plaque. Then he announced that the Municipality
had decided to change the name of the Rue Pont to Rue
Johnstone-Reckitt, so as to perpetuate the name of the hos-
pital. Lady Johnstone made a graceful reply in French
and I delivered a speech in English, a French translation
being read by M. Aribert. The whole ceremony was full
of real feeling. I do not think that any of us had quite
realised, till that moment, how much we had become a part
of Ris and how much our work had been really understood
by the people among whom we had lived for three years.

Facsimile of letter of thanks from General Pershing, Commander-
m-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force, to the Doctors
and Nurses of Ris Hospital who worked at Grigny Camp
during the Influenza Epidemic.

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Washington, D. C.,
April 1st 1920.

Dear Sir:

I wish to express to yon my appreciation of the
excellent services rendered by the nurses and the doctors
of "Bis Orangis" hospital under your able directorate, dur-
ing the epidemic of Spanish Influensa among the members
of the 57th Regiment of Engineers at Cacrp Grands, Seine
et Olse, in the month of September, 1918. The efficient
untiring and devoted efforts of the medical personnel dic-
ing that trying period curtailed the ravages ctf the disease
and undoubtedly saved many lives.

Please convey to the medical staff my appreciation
of their valuable aid, and also that ef the members ef the
A.B.F. whoa they so devotedly attended during the sevwrt
epidemic.

I regret that, before I left France for America,
I waa unable te personally thank yen and your medical staff
for your commendable services to the members of th» Aaaricaa
Expeditionary Forces.

Believe me.

Very sincerely.

Mr- H. J. Beckitt,

C/o Keokitt & sons, Ltd..

London,

To face p. 107]

ADMINISTRATEUR-GEN ERAL.

CHAPTER XIII

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS

No account of Ris Hospital would be complete without
some reference to the Administration De*partment.

As I have elsewhere pointed out, the organisation of a
war hospital, whose finances are controlled by private donors
while its status is that of a military institution, could not
conform to any existing standard; it had to be improvised
to meet the peculiar circumstances. The Me"decin-Chef, not
being a French officer, could not take the control which is
the rule in the military hospitals, so that, in fact, there were
in the hospital three heads of equal authority whose work
in the several departments had to be brought into alignment,
viz. the Medecin-Chef as head of the surgical and medical
staff, the Gestionnaire as representing the French Govern-
ment, and the Administrator, who had charge of the finances
both as regards the raising of money to maintain the hospital
and its expenditure.

The French Government presented me with a Card of
Identity in which I was given the grandiloquent title of
Administrateur- General, and this description I had to attach
after my signature to every official document. I confess
that the spelling of this designation was a stumbling-block.
Through the whole period of the hospital's work I acted as
Treasurer. Lady Johnstone was Administratrice-Ge'nerale.

The finances of the hospital were provided for by Lady
Johnstone and myself out of the sums that we equally
subscribed. The alteration of the building and its equip-
ment were paid for and the running expenses of the
hospital for eighteen months came from this source. Lady
Johnstone also gave a field hospital outfit with a quantity
of stores and a portable X-ray apparatus, while I supplied
the hospital with three Bianchi motor ambulances, a Bianchi
lorry and a light Dennis truck.

Under the contract which we had with the French Govern-
ment two and a half francs a day were paid for the main-
tenance of each soldier, with a higher rate for officers. We
also received a lump sum of 50,000 francs when we enlarged

107

108 V.R. 76

the hospital from one hundred to two hundred beds; the
French Government to have the two hundred beds complete
with mattress, pillow, sheets, blankets and pillow-case at the
completion of the hospital's work in consideration of this
grant.

In 1917 the French Government gave us a new contract
of a more advantageous character, increasing the grant to
three francs a day for each soldier and paying the wages of
the female kitchen staff and an agreed number of femmes de
manage and women ward orderlies.

In the summer of 1916 our motor service was militarised,
and consequently a French non-commissioned officer was
put in charge of the service and issued to us from the
French Government stock tyres, oil and petrol, for which
we made no payment, the consideration being the extra
motor service which was undertaken by our cars for the
French hospitals in the surrounding districts. No car could
leave the hospital without a written order from him, if using
Government petrol. We were very fortunate in the French
officers in charge of this department, all charming, helpful
men, and M. Mar got, tall, large, with always a merry twinkle
in his eye, was ever our very good friend.

From May 1917 it was very largely due to the energetic
kindness and liberality of our New York Committee that
the work of the hospital was continued. In May 1918 it
was anticipated that the hospital would be closed at the
end of that month and all financial arrangements were being
made to that end, but when we were appealed to by the
French Government in their dire necessity to carry on the
hospital for a further period, although I did not know
where the money was coming from, I undertook to con-
tinue. The New York Committee, through the generosity
of Mrs. Morton Plant, continued their support and we also
received a loan of 54,000 francs from the Comite* Britannique
in London through the kindness of my friend Mr. Dudley
Illingworth.

This committee, which had done so much for the French
hospitals and other charities during the war, had always
been most kind in giving us assistance. They had for over
two years bought for us in London and had bought well,
and it was through this committee that we were often
enabled to replace vacancies on our Staff.

When the hospital was wound up in September 1918 we
were able to produce a final balance sheet which I feel is
eminently satisfactory. We returned the loan of 54,000

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS 109

francs to the Comite Britannique with our sincere thanks
for having come to our rescue when our bank balance was
non est. By returning this balance to a society which was
continuing to work for France I felt that I was carrying out
the wishes of those I was not able to consult individually.

The final balance sheet, after having charged the expenses
of liquidation, left us with the net sum of 14,278 francs,
36 centimes.

In the Appendix will be found a consolidated balance
sheet of the three years and also a balance sheet of the
liquidation.

My thanks are due for the many generous gifts which I
received. Sums large and small were given, always with
the one desire, to alleviate suffering and to bring some
comfort to the stricken French nation. With this knowledge
of the motive of all those who subscribed, I give in the list
of donors which appears in the Appendix only the individual
names, as it seems to me invidious, when the object of all
was the same, to measure their generosity by any figure.

In addition to gifts of money, we received from individuals,
as well as from societies, a constant stream of every kind of
hospital necessity : gauze and cotton in bulk, prepared
bandages and dressings of every size and material required,
dressing-gowns, shirts, socks, handkerchiefs, underwear and
many games and books. If, by any chance, I have omitted
from the list in this book the name of any society which
helped Ris Hospital, let me assure them that it is due to my
carelessness in preserving documentary evidence and not to
any want of appreciation of their kindness.

In the autumn of 1916 the hospital received a very hand-
some gift of additional X-ray apparatus from the inhabitants
of Ris, as a mark of their appreciation of our work for the
French soldiers, and the services of the Out-patients' Depart-
ment to the inhabitants of the town.

There is one feature of the financial side which I should
like to bring out and that is the constant help which I
received from all members of the staff towards the expenses
of the hospital. Many of our voluntary workers, month by
month, gave a cheque to the Treasurer to cover their board
and lodging, while, to my own personal knowledge, the
sacrifice made by some who appeared upon the salary list
was as great in its way, in that the pay they received bore
no comparison to their civilian salaries.

In October of 1915 Mr. Sydney Ball came from the Hyde
Park Hotel in London to act as Secretary in the Adminis-

110 V.R. 76

tration Department. He was a man with considerable expe-
rience of hotel management and having been rejected by
the army he gave up his position in London in order to do
war work. The position of a hospital secretary is no sinecure.
He is at the beck and call of everyone for every trivial detail
that goes wrong. He will find on his table a chit telling him
that a window is broken on the second floor, a water-tap is
dripping on the third and there is a smell of gas on the first
and he then will have to make a tour of the hospital to
discover in which particular ward the damage has been done.

Mr. Ball took over petty cash and a certain amount of
the book-keeping and began and organised the system of
direct purchase of the hospital food supplies in les Holies
in Paris.

As the hospital expanded, the work of the Administration
naturally became heavier and we had to retain the services
of a clerk-accountant, Mr. F. E. S. Davis, who came to us as
ward orderly, and was drafted into the office about August
1916. Mr. Ball was called up by the army in March 1917
and had to return to London, but was never drafted for
service and went back to the Hyde Park Hotel as food
controller, now that the rationing system was in full opera-
tion in England. His experience at Ris Hospital in the
matter of rationing stood him in good stead. I cannot
speak too highly of the thoughtful assistance Mr. Ball always
gave me ; the efficiency of his work was such that very
little change was made by his successors.

Mr. Dunstan came to us in 1915 to assist in the office,
but unfortunately his health broke down soon after his
arrival and he died in the hospital. This was the only death
at Ris among the members of the staff.

While I was in America in 1916 my friend Mr. H. J. E.
Marsden of Scalby, Scarborough, volunteered to come to Ris
to take charge of the Administration. He remained for
about five months, when, unfortunately, he had to return
to England on account of ill-health. My deepest thanks
are due to him for the care and thought he devoted to
the hospital during this period.

In looking through correspondence and letters from mem-
bers of the old staff I find but one feeling pervading
them all with regard to Mr. Marsden' s administration. His
unfailing fairness and courtesy and studious consideration
for the welfare of the personnel is remarked on by all
and one of the younger V.A.D.s described him as "a
dear."

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS 111

On my return from America early in July of 1916 I was
met in Paris by Mr. Fraser, who had temporarily joined the
staff of the hospital with his own car as a motor driver.
He came to us for five or six weeks until a unit with which
he had been connected should be again placed and, like so
many other temporary appointments, his became permanent
and he stayed at Ris for very nearly two years.

I soon became aware of the business and organising ability
of Mr. Fraser and was very glad of his assistance and advice
in reorganising the administrative side of the hospital. We
were both struck with the fact that in the motor department
we had five or six volunteer drivers whose time was only
partially occupied, as the full number of ambulances was
only used on the arrival of hospital trains two or three times
a month. The rest of the time hung heavy on their hands.
We therefore tried to use the abilities of these men in other
departments of the hospital. Thus Mr. Burdon Muller took
charge of the Paris buying, and Mr. Lindsay Bury devoted
himself to carpenter's work. He attended to the constantly
needed little repairs of bedside tables and bed feeding-tables
and enriched the hospital with many home-made deck-chairs.
His habitat in the winter was the top attic and in the summer
a tent in the grounds. Genial and kindly, always on the
look-out to do any little service that lay in his power in any
department, he was much missed when he had to return to
England.

Mr. Harold Cobb undertook the duty of communicating
with the Gestionnaire about any work that was required by
the Administration from the French contingent. When he
left us he went to Paris to take charge of the Headquarters
there of the Comite* Britannique of London.

Mr. Joshua Bower as Motor Captain had his time fully
occupied in attending to the overhauling and repairing of the
cars and did much of this work himself. A more devotedly
loyal friend no man could ask for. He and I were at school
together and it is a great thing in life to be able to maintain
and keep friendships thus early begun. While superintending
the repairs of one of the ambulances Mr. Bower was seriously
burnt on the face and hands by the sudden ignition of petrol
vapour in the inspection chamber. He left us in March
1917 and was succeeded as head of the Motor Department
by Mr. Fraser. Although well over military age, Mr. Bower
obtained a commission in the British army and served for
over a year in Mesopotamia.

Mr. Peyton-Jones and Mr. A. H. Phillips rendered good

112 V.R. 76

service in the Motor Department and my thanks are deeply
due to Mr. F. Grotrian and Mr. H. B. Grotrian for their
work during the establishment of the hospital and the
organisation of the ambulance service.

Mr. Vaughan Wilkes of Eastbourne gave us his services
during his summer holidays in 1915 at a time when we
were very short of motor cars and I must not forget Miss
Nora Morrogh and Miss Biddies, who came to us in 1918,
when it was very difficult to get chauffeurs.

With the formation of the Committee in July 1916
Mr. Fraser was appointed Chairman and in that capacity
undertook the reorganisation of the kitchen and the iconome.
He found that there was a considerable amount of leakage
and waste, and instituted a system by which the French
lady in charge of the econome knew what was the total
effective of the hospital for each day, as well as the
number of ordinary and special regimes, and issued to
the kitchens the precise quantities that were required for
each meal. A much stricter supervision was introduced
as to the odd meals which the French femmes de menage were
always attempting to obtain.

While I was in America in the autumn of 1916 Mr. Joshua
Bower undertook the duties of Administrator. On my return
in January 1917, when the question of the future of the
hospital was at stake, I found in Mr. Fraser a wise counsellor
and an enthusiastic supporter of the proposition put forward
by the Service de Sante, to continue the hospital under its
old management.

An agreement was entered into between Lady Johnstone,
Mr. Fraser and myself by which I guaranteed the main-
tenance of the hospital from the end of January to the end
of April (the end of our financial year) and for the year
beginning May 1st the signatories to the new arrangement
guaranteed £10,000 in shares according to their ability.
Any subscriptions that might come in before the 1st of May
were to be carried over to the new financial year.

The creation of the New York Committee, under the chair-
manship of Mr. H. L. Satterlee, provided further security.
We launched our appeals in America in the name of " The
Hospital under Three Flags " (England, France and America),
as the New York Committee considered that a hospital so
designated was more likely to receive public support than
if it were known by its original name, " Johnstone -Re ckitt
Foundation."

It may seem invidious to pick out from the hospital's

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS 118

many friends in America any particular names, but I cannot
refrain from mentioning the generosity of Mrs. Morton Plant,
whose large monthly contribution was one of the mainstays
of the hospital finance, and Mrs. William Decker, who, from
the first, helped us by her efforts for the nursing fund and
by her many gifts of clothing and hospital necessities. My
friend, Miss Caroline Duer, after her return to New York, did
much by her individuality and energy to enlarge the circle
of Ris sympathisers. Mr. Horace Andrews, Mrs. Decker's
brother, was the head of the New York Executive Committee
and was one of the most active workers for the hospital on
the other side. From the first he was wholeheartedly with
France and England, and as chairman of the American
Clearing House did incalculable service to the war hospitals
of Europe. Weakened by years of overwork, he fell a victim
to the influenza scourge of 1918.

Another large circle of friends, not connected with the New
York Committee, supplied the hospital with gifts of clothing
and hospital requirements from the start and continued their
help till we closed.

Mrs. McFadden of Greenwich was a constant contributor
to the comfort of the French soldiers and through her we
received many gifts of money to be expended in artificial
limbs for the amputation cases.

Now that Mr. Fraser had become so much a part of the
foundation, it naturally followed that he took a more active
part in the Administration and, from February 1917 to May
1918, he acted as Assistant Administrator and relieved me of
much of the office work. When he returned to England he
was put in charge of Dutch propaganda in London.

Mr. Herbert J. Middleweek, who came to us towards the
end of 1916 and had charge of the accountancy in the
office, succeeded Mr. Ball as Secretary in March 1917 and
when Mr. Davis, who assisted with the balance sheets, as
he was a qualified chartered accountant, left the hospital
to become accountant to Dr. Blake's hospital in Paris,
Alfred Atkins, a ward orderly, who was also a chartered
accountant, came into the office to prepare the monthly state-
ment and the annual balance sheet. I want to put on record
my appreciation of the skill and ability of Mr. Davis and
Mr. Atkins in the professional accountancy that they gave
to the hospital. Mr. Davis afterwards held a high appoint-
ment in the Accountancy Department of the American Red
Cross, and Alfred Atkins, after the closing of the Juilly
Hospital in February 1919, became Financial Secretary to the

114 V.R. 76

International Red Cross Conference at Cannes and is now
permanently attached to the International Headquarters of
the Red Cross at Geneva.

My friend Mr. Middleweek was a distinct personality in
the hospital and had the unenviable task of dealing with
all the trivialities of the daily administration. He was very
clever in handling the small French shopkeepers and the
women of the district who held the milk contracts. When
Mr. Fraser left the hospital, Mr. Middleweek was appointed
Administrateur-Delegue.

My thanks are due to him for his unfailing help and con-
sideration during a period when his health was not of the
best and the work that fell upon his shoulders was constantly
increasing.

Our office staff was completed by Mademoiselle Le Paulmier,
who came to us first as Dr. Blake's private secretary and
remained as secretary to the Medecin-Chef. She was always
willing to do any shorthand and typewriting for the Adminis-
tration and was one of the most popular members of the staff.
Her duties required quite exceptional ability, as she had to
translate all the official French documents for the Medecin-
Chef and to take down in English and afterwards translate
into French all the official replies. Her heaviest work always
came with an evacuation. The medical history of each case
was written in English by the doctors in charge of the wards
and each blesst, on his evacuation, had to be provided with
a complete translation in French of his medical record. The
preparation of this was the duty of Mademoiselle Le Paulmier.
She also took the notes in the operating theatre for the
Medecin-Chef and accompanied him as interpreter on his
daily rounds. Efficient and competent, she never allowed
personal suffering to interfere with her work.

Mr. Burdon-Muller came to the hospital in its very early
days and from the beginning took charge of the miscellaneous
purchases and renewals which were wanted in every depart-
ment. He became thoroughly acquainted with all the shops
in Paris, large and small. It was the duty of the dry store
department to prepare a list to be submitted to the Adminis-
trator and it was with this list in his possession, covered
with many tags of samples, buttons, pins, wool, cotton,
that he would set off for Paris twice a week on his thankless
task, seldom without an additional list to be attended
to for members of the staff. This wrork he undertook
winter and summer in all weathers, going and returning
in his open car. After Mr. Ball left he also undertook the

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS 115

marketing at les Holies, which entailed a start at five o'clock
in the morning. To a superficial observer this may seem a
small job, but the efficient carrying out of these commissions
was something round which the whole hospital revolved. We
were all very fond of Roland and we have many personal
kindnesses to thank him for. In January of 1918 he left
us to join the British army and was attached to the Central
Bureau at Boulogne and Paris.

As Treasurer to the hospital, all financial questions came
under my authority. It seems a thousand pities that nearly
£2000 of our original fund had to be expended in getting
together the personnel and keeping them together for three
months until the hospital was ready for occupation. A very
large portion of our funds was expended, and I think as a
whole well spent, on putting the building at Ris into proper
condition to be a hospital and buying equipment of the best
quality. We never tried to do anything cheaply. While
these first costs were at the time considerably criticised by
our friends, the fact stands out that, even at the end of three
years' hospital work, we were not faced with the need for
renewal of material and the beds and bedding were bought
from the French Government by the Union Nationale des
Cheminots de France and are starting a new lease of life
in their hospital at Ris.

My work as Administrator brought me closely in touch
with the French Gestionnaires. Captain Morel, who first
held the post, was helpful and thoughtful and took a keen
interest in the development of our work. I was truly sorry
when he left us to take charge, in a similar capacity, of a
large and important military hospital.

Lieut. Augendre was only at the hospital for a short time,
almost coincident with my absence in America and personally
I scarcely came in contact with him.

Lieut. Aribert, who succeeded Lieut. Augendre, came in
1916 and stayed with us till the hospital closed. My relations
with him were most pleasant. He was competent, keenly
interested in his work and of the kindest disposition in all
his dealings with the wounded. Early impressions of a man
are often the right ones. I have a mental picture of Lieut.
Aribert in the big goods' warehouse at Juvisy Junction on
the arrival of the first ambulance train after he took office.
I saw him kneeling on the dirty floor, raising the head of a
seriously wounded poilu as gently as a woman to give him
a drink, and that first impression was never afterwards
altered.

116 V.R. 76

Socially he was a great acquisition and many a long night
has he helped us to kill the tedium of waiting for a bless&
train or sitting up on duty during an air raid by playing a
very excellent hand at bridge.

Our two previous Gestionnaires lived in Paris, so that
they were often absent from the hospital on Saturdays and
Sundays. With the coming of Lieut. Aribert we wished to
change this inconvenient arrangement, so the hospital
authorities made it possible for him to take a house in Ris for
himself and his family.

Lieut. Aribert arranged many concerts for the soldiers and
took charge of the arrangement of the Christmas festivities
in the hospital. He was always ready to lend a hand in the
many little unofficial things that go towards making a
hospital a success and in the very pleasant recollections we
all have of his service with us Madame Aribert takes her
full share.

There is one bon mot of his which must not be lost. I
was explaining that my wife had decided to do canteen
work with the French army and was not coming to work
in the hospital and he replied : " Bien ! It would be
impossible for Monsieur ever to give a command to Madame."

Although the Matrons do not come directly in line with
the work of the Administration Department there was
hardly a day when some matter did not arise that necessitated
our meeting. The happy internal working of a hospital as
far as the staff is concerned is directly dependent on the
personality of the Matron and I was very fortunate, as Ad-
ministrator, in having to deal with women of individuality
and character.

Our first Matron was Miss Brouse, who came to the
hospital soon after Dr. Blake became M&lecin-Chef. Her
position was one of considerable difficulty. The staff was
entirely new and had not yet settled down into the grooves
of regular work after a long period of inaction due to the
delay in establishing the hospital. Before she left us in
March 1916 she had laid the foundations of that discipline
which was so very necessary for the success of our work
for the wounded.

Dr. Blake had sent to America for one of his old nurses
as Night Superintendent and Miss Robertson arrived at Ris
in February 1916 and, on the resignation of Miss Brouse,
was appointed Matron and held this post until June 1917,
when she left to be married. I think everybody in the
hospital loved Miss Robertson; the blessts worshipped her

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS 117

and she had the respect of every doctor. A strict discipli-
narian, with the eye of a hawk for any negligence on the
part of the French femmes de mSnage, she saw to it that
the hospital was kept as clean as a new pin. She was an
admirable Matron in every way and her administration
was the making of our hospital at Ris.

Mrs. Clapp, a graduate of the New York Post-Graduate
Medical School and Hospital, succeeded Miss Robertson in
June 1917 and was Matron for fifteen months, until the
hospital closed, when she joined the American army. In
her own way Mrs. Clapp was as successful a Matron as Miss
Robertson. She took over an admirably run and organised
hospital and staff and she never allowed them to deteriorate,
but her methods of administration and control were on
different lines to those of Miss Robertson. Mrs. Clapp carried
on all the old traditions of the canteen at the railway station,
the care for and interest in the blesses and was one of the
prime movers in the Christmas festivities for the children of
Ris. I found her at all times easy and pleasant to work with
and as the difficulties of administration increased with the
high cost of supplies, I received her help and support in
the necessary economies which had to be practised.

One of the old stagers of the hospital, Miss Hunt filled
many posts and might be described without disrespect as
being the general stop-gap and as such she deserves her
own paragraph and thanks. Her official position was Matron
of the Night Nurses' Home, but she undertook the dry
stores department, the diet kitchen and nursing in the wards
when any of the nurses were away on holiday or absent
through illness. I doubt if she ever missed a blesse night and
on those occasions she took her full share of undressing and
washing the new arrivals, a work of very distinct personal
devotion to the suffering.

Amongst those who were with the hospital from its begin-
ning to the finish was Mr. H. C. Gage of the X-ray Depart-
ment, who did unique service at Ris. He organised one of
the best X-ray plants any hospital in France possessed and
he also had charge of the dispensary and the electrical
massage apparatus. Under Dr. Blake he acted as Hospital
Superintendent and the names of Ris and Gage became
inseparably connected. The X-ray room was the one
department of the hospital about which I never had a
moment's worry and it was run in a most economical
manner. In April 1917 Mr. Gage took on the additional
work of radiographer to Dr. Blake's hospital in Paris and

118 V.R. 76

divided his time between the two hospitals. He never entirely-
severed his connection with the hospital in the Rue Piccini,
where he remained to the end as consultant radiographer. On
going to Juilly Hospital, he was given the honorary rank of
Captain in the American Red Cross. Quite beyond praise
was his devotion to his work; he never rested in his efforts
to do more and still more for the wounded.

Mr. F. T. Beer, Mr. Gage's first assistant, stayed with us
till 1918. He became an expert radiographer and the Ad-
ministration were pleased to make him an officer as some
recognition of his valuable work.

Miss Slater of Newnham College, Cambridge, succeeded
Mr. Beer and brought to the X-ray Department a change
from its monastic severity. Although only with us for a
short time, she firmly established herself as a personality in
the hospital, a successful worker and an addition to our
society.

Applegarth and Frost worked hard and well as orderlies
in this department. The former eventually left us to take
charge of the Dispensary Stores Department of the American
Red Cross.

Frost was an interesting development. In private life he
was a Yorkshire coal-miner and he became an expert in the
development of the X-ray plates. One thing that hospital
life taught him was the charm of living above ground and,
despite the attraction of high wages, he has given up mining
and become a gardener.

The English orderlies in the hospital came under the
Administration. Most of them were allocated to the wards,
two being attached to the Motor Department and, while we
had a sufficient number, two or three were used for outside
work about the building and grounds.

Our first Head Orderly was Larcher, who had had pre-
vious experience in a war hospital in France and spoke
French well. In addition to being Head Orderly he was
for over a year in charge of the operating theatre, afterwards
joining the staff of Dr. Kenneth Taylor in the Laboratory
and, in March 1917, going to Dr. Blake's hospital in Paris.
He now holds a responsible post in the British Chamber of
Commerce in Paris. I have a very real regard for Larcher ;
efficient, willing and always courteous. He was succeeded by
Bruce, whose knowledge of French enabled him to assist the
English and American nurses in their communications with
their patients. He left us towards the end of 1917 to
become an interpreter in the American army.

FIGURES, FACTS AND SOME APPRECIATIONS 119

Levitt of Compton, Sussex, then became Head Orderly
and held that post till the end. He was in every way
qualified for this position, as he had been a sick-bay orderly
in the Navy and had, by this time, acquired a working
knowledge of the French language.

It was of Levitt that Mr. Fraser said, " He is the champion
grouser of the hospital and as such will be our best bulwark
against the complaints of the orderlies under him."

I think this appearance of grousing was more superficial
than real, for I never knew a more genial person when there
was work to be done. I remember Levitt's complaining that
a certain orderly was neglectful of his duties. On making
inquiries I discovered that the man was in the habit of going
to sleep in the afternoon behind a screen in his ward, but he
was so careless about his slumbers that he persistently left his
feet in full view. I think it must have been Levitt's naval
training which made him so strongly object to such a
slovenly method of neglecting duty. It was to him that
we owed the flower-beds round the hospital and he made
many of the window- boxes that were filled with flowers
during the winter.

While I am speaking of Levitt and putting on record my
appreciation of his services I would wish to include all the
little band of volunteers from Compton, six in number, who
worked at Ris. Three of them remained throughout the
whole period of the hospital's existence. Simpson, with
his varying occupations, Christie and Spiers in the Motor
Department, rendered devoted service. Leggett and Creswell
were at Ris only a short time and returned to England to fill
vacancies on the Little Green estate caused by the heavy
enlistments for the army.

During the whole three years we were excessively for-
tunate with our orderlies. Some failures were only to be
expected, seeing that the work was entirely new to all of
them, but steady, intelligent work was the rule. If any
are to be singled out, the services of the following call
for particular mention : C. and M. Fordham, Towse and
Zelliacus, who were voluntary orderlies ; Applegarth, Atkins,
Beer, who afterwards became an officer, Bennett, Dahm,
Davis, Dyke, Frost, Kaye, Mairet, Marchant, Moore and
Porter.

Our nurses and V.A.D.s, brought together from many
countries, were a splendid body of women. Where all were
devoted, a few stand out specially. Among these are —
Nurses : Miss Baker (Masseuse), Miss Beatty, Miss Carson,

120 V.R. 76

Miss F. Dewar and Miss M. Dewar, Miss Eadie, Mrs. Excell,
Miss den Hartigh, Miss Hunt, Miss MacDonald, Miss Morris
(Masseuse), Miss Niven, Miss O'Toole, Miss Porter, Miss Powell,
Miss Selby, Miss Spence, Miss Thompson (Anaesthetist), Miss
Winning and Miss Wood ; V.A.D.s : Lady Congreve and her
son John, the Boy Scout, Miss Lyall, Miss Lyons, Miss
MacFadden and Lady Frances Ryder, also the Demoiselles
Lebedt and Mile. Germaine Hervieu ; Volunteer workers in
the Administrative Department : Madame Bimont, Miss
Mary Davies, Miss Davison, Miss Caroline Duer, Mrs. Green-
ham and Mademoiselle Douane, who filled a difficult position
(she was the only Frenchwoman among twenty or thirty
Anglo-Saxons) with a grace and loyalty which won her the
regard of every individual in the hospital.

CHAPTER XIV

THE MOVE TO JUILLY

THE taking over of Juilly Hospital and its reorganisation
was not an easy task. Nothing is more difficult than to
augment a hospital staff by the addition of a complete
unit which has been working for three years. Two distinct
cliques were formed from the very beginning and, to add to
one's problems, the nursing staff had at once to be reduced,
which became a matter of delicate negotiation with Miss
Bickell, who was Matron at Juilly before and after our
arrival. In the end an equal number of nurses were dis-
pensed with from each staff, those who had served the
shortest time being transferred to the American Headquarters
in Paris.

When I arrived, the previous Administrator was away on
his holiday and on his return could only spare twenty-four
hours of his valuable time to make me acquainted with his
method of work.

Juilly Hospital was founded by Mrs. Paine Whitney of
New York towards the end of 1914 and received its first
blesses about the middle of January 1915. The hospital was
situated in one wing of the College de Juilly, one of the oldest
and best known secular colleges in France. Among the many
distinguished past students was Lafayette, the leader of the
French contingent who helped the Americans in their War
of Independence in 1773.

Those who had charge of the alterations had indeed done
marvels with the old building. An excellent system of hot-
water circulation and electric lighting had been installed
and there was a very complete laundry down in the huge old
cellars. In the main building there were three long wards
on the first, second and third floors, while in the grounds
there was a detached ward called the theatre. This was
very cold and damp and only suitable for use in the summer
and during my administration was closed as a ward after
the evacuation of the American soldiers who were suffering
from influenza.

In June of 1918, with the advance of the Germans to

121

122 V.R. 76

Chateau-Thierry, the college was evacuated and the pupils
sent to their homes. It was then that the United States
army took possession of the building and made it into a
base hospital of 1500 beds. The original Paine Whitney
Foundation provided 300 beds for French soldiers.

Two different American Army Medical Units had been
quartered here. They had entirely changed the original
plan of the building, so that it was necessary to rearrange
the various wards, corridors, etc., to suit the conveniences
and uses of a smaller unit. There was a mass of unsorted
material — tents filled with beds, blankets, hospital requisites,
some belonging to the American army, some to the American
Red Cross, some to the college authorities and the rest to
the Mrs. Paine Whitney Foundation and, on top of this,
were deposited the Ris Hospital belongings.

It was fortunate that I had four or five English orderlies
and they at once set to work to sort into various tents the
American Red Cross and army belongings. A large room
with a concrete floor, which had been fitted up as a receiving
ward but never used, was divided into sections as a store-
room and here the linen, blankets and clothing, furniture,
glass and china, were deposited, while the smaller articles were
put in a room to themselves which was used as office by the
storekeeper, Kaye. There were enormous stores of bandages
and dressings in the place which we eventually sorted and I
was able to despatch to Paris many cases of such necessaries,
which were at that time urgently needed at the front.

A new X-ray room was built by cutting off a portion of
the first floor ward, but this was not yet fitted up when the
Armistice was declared on November llth. In these altera-
tions the wood that we had brought from Ris was extensively
used.

The old shower bath and washroom on the ground floor
were reinstalled. Here almost daily, American, French and
Portuguese soldiers were brought to have the luxury of a
hot shower.

On the ground floor at the end of the stores department
we established an out-patients' clinic. This was very neces-
sary in a locality which had been so near to the fighting
line. Not only Juilly, but the villages for miles round, were
full of refugees and the only local doctor in the district was
an old man of nearly eighty. Here a very good work was
done by Dr. Wiseman and Dr. House, assisted by Miss Palmer
and Miss Clark. The reorganisation of this department
was very largely due to the inspiration of Miss Palmer, who

THE MOVE TO JUILLY 123

had been at Juilly when it was started and had taken the
greatest interest in the welfare of the neighbourhood.

Having succeeded in getting our stores inventoried and
sorted, the next business was with the material in the
wards and we proceeded to weed out all the broken beds,
soiled mattresses, thin pillows, worn sheets and blankets
and brought the crockery, metal cups, knives and forks up
to a proper standard.

By the time the task of reorganisation was finished, the
whole aspect of the hospital was changed and, from being a
lost child whom nobody loved, it had become a well-equipped,
clean, tidy and self-respecting institution. The two staffs
had come to an amicable working arrangement and, as I
became personally known to the nurses, I was able to gain
their full co-operation and support. No one was kinder to
me at this period than Miss Handley, operating-theatre nurse,
and Miss Palmer.

Major Farmer of the United States Army was appointed
Me*decin-Chef and in the work of reorganisation he gave
me every help and assistance. Through his offices we had
the loan of joiners from the American Anti-Aircraft Camp
situated about three miles from Juilly.

Shortly after the Armistice, orders were received from
Paris that a complete inventory of everything in the hospital
was to be furnished. I was unable to find any documents
of a later date than the beginning of 1916, so the fulfilment
of the order was no sinecure. I had for my guidance the
old ward inventories for Ris and we made our draft sheets
for each ward and for the bedrooms of the personnel and
the work was eventually completed, the final gathering
together of the figures being done by an American steno-
grapher from Headquarters. Having nearly completed her
task, she was interviewed one afternoon by two American
Red Cross officers from Paris, who gave her minute instruc-
tions that their department required the inventory to be
prepared in a certain way, entirely different from the method
upon which she was working, so that she had to start practi-
cally over again. Not till she had nearly finished this
second task did I find out, quite by accident, that these
two officers had lost their way and arrived at the wrong
hospital and the instructions were not for us at all. When
they were leaving Juilly they expressed a doubt to Major
Farmer as to whether they were at the right place, but
did not communicate this doubt either to myself or to the
young lady who was engaged on the inventory.

124 V.R. 76

While I was superintending these arrangements I had
also the ordinary routine of the hospital to attend to.
Mr. Middleweek and Mr. Gage were absent in England on
leave, so that I was not only buyer, but had to supervise the
market lists, and control the kitchen and the econome.

If it had not been for the very able assistance of M.
Mauternach I should never have become acquainted with
the details of the administration or been able to cope with
the work. He was always somewhat diffident about his
own abilities, but I formed a very high opinion of his char-
acter and judgment and he was a very loyal assistant in the
administrative department.

Soon after our arrival I was faced with a threatened strike
of the laundrywomen and the femmes de menage in the
hospital. These were being paid at the rate of two francs
fifty to three francs a day, without food, and their pay had
not been increased since 1915. I drew up a new list of
salaries, based upon the pay sanctioned by the French army
for the women employed in the military hospitals; some
allowance was made for the difference between Paris and the
country, but the increase was very considerable, in many
cases more than double. I put this revised pay-sheet before
my Commanding Officer, Major Farmer, and he at once
signed it. I am glad to think that this is one of the things I
got away with, without a scrutiny of the auditing department
of the American Red Cross.

A formidable proposition was the chef. I was told he
was utterly impossible and would have to go, that in the
evening after many libations his language was so shocking
that the Frenchwomen could not work in the kitchen. On
making inquiries I found that he had been reprimanded
and ordered about in a way no self-respecting chef could
tolerate in his own kitchen, so I determined to try another
method. I did not wish to make a change as it was exces-
sively difficult to get anyone to replace him. I summoned
him to my office and had a long talk as to the management
of his kitchen. I asked what he required in the way of
renewals, whether his staff was satisfactory, arranged the
method by which he was to give me the daily menu and
then told him that I should hold him responsible for his own
department and that I was certain that I could count on
his loyal co-operation. After dinner, if it had been well
served, I sent my compliments to the chef or personally
congratulated him upon his success and from that time
complaints seemed to become far less frequent and while

THE MOVE TO JUILLY 125

I cannot say that he became a teetotaller I never had any
occasion to complain that he was anything but sober. He
stayed with us until the hospital was closed.

In Mademoiselle Grisel of the econome department I had
a most valuable ally and helper. She was economical and
thorough and was most helpful in her advice and counsel
with regard to the whole of the French personnel, especially
the linen-room and laundry staffs.

Our office accommodation was excessively limited and it
was the general meeting-place of everyone not on duty.
To obviate this overcrowding I instituted an officers' sitting-
room on the first floor.

The portion of the college building which we occupied was
L-shaped, the main block being the three big wards. The
ground floor contained the staff dining-room, the kitchens
and tconome, with a wide vaulted corridor, one end of which
was used as a dining-room for the French staff. The offices
and linen-room were situated in a boarded-in annexe running
parallel to the corridor. The other portion of the L was
taken up on the first, second and third floors with the sleeping
quarters of the staff. On the third floor was a very nice
nurses' sitting-room. Here we instituted morning tea, a
Ris tradition.

One of the first things that I undertook on getting to
Juilly was to try to fill the hospital with blessts. I called on
my friend Commandant Kleber, at the Service de Sante, and
he inquired in surprise if we were really ready for patients
yet. I assured him we were and that we had the same
excellent surgical staff that we had had at Ris. A few
days afterwards we received about thirty cases and a week
later a trainload of one hundred and eighteen.

Juilly had for some time been more of a convalescent home
than a hospital, but the cases we received were interesting
and serious. Major Farmer further filled our beds by having
transferred to us eighteen American soldiers whom he found
in a French hospital at Meaux. Neither he nor the Medecin-
Chef on this occasion troubled about papers. We sent our
ambulances to fetch the men and the French officer was
only too pleased that the Americans should come amongst
their own people.

The College authorities were always excessively kind and
courteous to me and M. 1s Abbe Sabatier and the Vice -Principal,
M. 1'Abbe* Dedieu, very kindly put at my disposal a charm-
ing suite of rooms in the old part of the building overlooking
the central forecourt. On several occasions I lunched with

V.R. 76

M. 1'Abbe Sabatier in the wonderful refectory, panelled in
mellowed chestnut, with charming pictures of the old college
park and la chasse let into the panelling. The college has
been offered a high price for this room and the carved side-
tables but, to its everlasting credit, will not sell, although the
institution is far from wealthy.

M. Sabatier was taken very seriously ill with malarial
fever followed by an attack of Spanish grippe and it was
only after his recovery that I made his acquaintance. He
was much beloved by all connected with Juilly and the nurses
and doctors vied with each other to do him service. He was
justly proud of his many war decorations, all of them earned
by his devotion to the French poilu. He joined the army as
a brancardier, served throughout the operations in Salonica
and eventually became Chaplain- General to the French forces
— a man of great depth of mind and wide culture whom it
was a privilege to know.

The winter of 1918 was marked by a severe epidemic of
Spanish grippe in all the villages surrounding Juilly and the
doctors were kept very busy visiting cases among the out-
patients. The conditions of poverty were appalling and the
mortality high.

During my absence in November, Mr. Gage took charge
of the Administration and he kept for me the very interesting
official telegram to the Mayor of Juilly which announced the
Armistice :

" Faites prevenir immediatement de la part de M. le
Prefet, le Maire de votre localiU et ceux des communes
desservies par votre bureau d9 avoir a faire sonner a toute
voile a 4/iJ du soir les cloches de toutes les eglises, de faire
pavoiser et illuminer aux couleurs alliees et s'entendre avec
Vautorite militaire pour faire tirer les salves d* artillerie au

We celebrated the Armistice in the hospital with champagne,
in the proper French fashion; this did not appear in the
Red Cross accounts.

Thanksgiving Day was also suitably remembered on the
last Thursday in November.

The Christmas of 1918 I tried to make a real Christmas
for everybody, as it was to be our last hospital Noel in France.
The wards were charmingly decorated; everybody entered
into the work. There were gifts for all, jack-knives and

THE MOVE TO JUILLY 12?

pipes for the blesses, identity discs for the nurses and special
gifts to my own department as some recognition for the
assistance they had given me during a very difficult time.
The event of the day was the entertainment to the children
of Juilly and the refugee children from the surrounding
district. There was hot chocolate, bread and jam for every-
one ; there were mufflers, frocks, mittens, woolly caps and
underclothing for a happy crowd of boys and girls, with
many toys and games to amuse them and the children
had the greatest difficulty in making up their minds which
of the gifts they would choose.

M. Bonneau, the French pharmacist, was a host in himself
and when the cinematograph, which followed the distribution
of gifts, was displayed by the Italian motor mechanic, M.
Bonneau gave a running commentary on the pictures to a
delighted and interested audience.

The nurses decorated a gorgeous Christmas tree and were
willing workers at this fete. The little orphans from the
Convent of the Dames de St. Louis were crowded together
in a group on the right of the platform and were presented
jointly with the largest and best dressed of the dolls.

The day after Christmas Day I received an invitation from
the Mother Superior of the Convent to attend an entertain-
ment given by the children in their school. The room was
crowded to its utmost capacity. Mr. Gage and I were placed,
to our distinct embarrassment, in the front row, and we were
overwhelmed with thanks for our presence and apologies for
the entertainment we were about to witness.

Across one end of the room hung a dark curtain which was
opened and closed by one of the scholars. The first part of
the programme was a charming little play founded on the
story of a lace -worker in Bruges, the only support of a blind
mother and an infant child. The opening scene showed the
lady of fashion insisting upon her lace being delivered un-
reasonably early and the poor lace-worker overborne by her
family troubles and the difficulty of performing her task.

The second scene was the same room at night. A weary
wanderer appeared begging food and shelter from the storm
without and finding succour and warmth from the poorest
in the town. The lace-worker falls asleep over her pillow and
bobbins and the wandering beggar becomes the patron saint
of lace-workers and summons a bevy of angels who complete
the lace while the poor woman sleeps.

We were entirely charmed by the sincerity of the acting.
The stage and its surroundings were naive and artistic. All

128 V.R. 76

the costumes were home-made and between the acts the
little actors grouped themselves round the harmonium and
sang charmingly.

The second part was the Adoration of the Infant Christ
in the manger. The setting of this was admirable, the
sides and back of the little stage being hung with old brocades
and tapestries, while the angels in their white gowns, wings
and golden crowns, made the prettiest of pictures and the
Wise Men from the East gave to the solemn scene a human
and homely touch. The whole picture is something which
I shall always remember and associate with Christmas.

The Dames de St. Louis are dependent upon gifts and the
sale in Paris of their embroideries and lingerie made by the
children. The war had cut off very largely this source of
income and how poor they were can be gathered from the
following incident.

A few days after their performance I saw one of the Sisters
and three of the children who had been angels, carefully pick-
ing over the ash-heap of the hospital for pieces of coal. When
the hospital closed at the end of January I found that some
anthracite was still left and this found its way to the convent
as my thanks to the children for the charming entertainment
they had given me. A letter of thanks from the Mother
Superior is sweet in its simplicity:

"MONSIEUR,

" V raiment vous nous avez comblees. Le bon Dieu
vous dira le merci que je ne sais pas exprimer. Nous le
lui demanderons dans une priere bien fervente, enfants et
religieuses, et le bon Dieu exaucera la priere de la recon-
naissance.

"SR. NATHALIE,

"Sup."

The hospital at Juilly was styled Hopital Benevole, so that
the Gestionnaire was a sous-officier and his contingent limited
in numbers. In this contingent we had five Annamites. It
was hard to teach them anything new, but once they had
learnt, they would repeat it with painstaking accuracy. We
used them only in the wards, and on the whole they were a
success.

A new departure was the ward for women in-patients.
We also took male civilian cases in the general wards, and
a baby clinic was established in Ward 2, in the charge of
Miss Lyons.

THE MOVE TO JUILLY 129

Major Farmer himself undertook the serious operations
in civil cases, while Dr. Garretson, a throat specialist, per-
formed in his own branch alone more than seventy operations
in three months.

The administration of a hospital under the American Red
Cross was somewhat difficult for me, after having for three
years run a hospital where there was no final appeal from
my decision. I found the system of financing the institution
distinctly difficult. It was run by means of a floating fund
of 25,000 francs, which was renewable on the presentation
of accounts. As our expenditure was over 70,000 francs
monthly it necessitated the presentation of detailed accounts
three or four times a month; it took all day to go to Paris
and return, and there was an interval of two days between
the presentation of accounts and the receipt of a cheque.
I felt that far too much time was taken up with these formali-
ties. I suggested a floating account of 50,000 francs, which
would have meant a bi-monthly statement, but I was unable
to persuade the powers that be, who probably did not realise
that Juilly was forty kilometres from Paris. Another
difficulty which I encountered was that I found I was con-
stantly breaking the rules governing the management of Red
Cross hospitals. As I was never able to get a printed copy
of the said rules, I fear I am as ignorant now as I was then
as to what rules were still left for me to break.

In spite of these minor troubles I have the pleasantest
recollections of Colonel Burlingame, the head of the American
Red Cross in Paris on the medical side, and Major Roulston,
the head of the North-Eastern Zone, in which Juilly Hospital
was located. Here it was that I met again an old Ris man
in Mr. Davis the accountant, who was very helpful to me in
my new work.

We were now fortunately situated with regard to our
supplies. We could draw by indent on the American Red
Cross stores, while Major Farmer made it possible for us to
do the same thing on the American Army Depot and I was
able to supplement these advantages by buying through the
Comite Britannique in Paris.

We had long contracts for milk with two farms in the
locality, and when the supply of milk exceeded our con-
sumption we had butter for tea on Sundays. I entered into
a contract with a local butcher for the meat supply and
found by comparison that he was able to supply us with
better quality at a cheaper rate than if we had bought for
ourselves in the Paris market. I now tried the system

130 V.R. 76

of buying the best quality instead of looking primarily for
the lowest price and I am inclined to think that, while the
outlay was considerably greater, there was far less waste
and the general standard of nutriment for the Staff and
patients was distinctly superior.

Early in 1919 we began to make arrangements for the
closing of Juilly Hospital and the final evacuation of the
wounded took place on the 24th January. I was able,
through the courtesy of the French General in command of
the Paris District Medical Service, to arrange for a special
sanitary train to be sent to Demartin station, three kilometres
from Juilly. Six American motor ambulances were sent
down by the French and the evacuation of our eighty blesses
was accomplished amidst the tears and lamentations of the
patients and the femmes de menage. It was a bitterly cold
day, the ground white with snow.

An officer of the American Salvage Department was sent
down to take over the charge of all hospital material and
then check the inventory. He took an understanding
view of the situation, and refused to accept mattresses, beds
and enamel-ware that had distinctly seen their best days.
Finding that Miss Palmer had personally satisfied herself as
to the needs of many poor refugees in Juilly and district, he
assisted in the distribution of a few household necessaries to
bare and desolate homes.

One of the courtesies shown me by the American Red Cross
I much appreciated. They gave me the honorary rank of
Captain, while serving under them, and the three strips of
braid on my cuff gave me the necessary authority over the
American motor-car drivers, who up to that time had been
somewhat unruly.

Our last night at Juilly was commemorated by some of us,
a coterie of kindred spirits, by a midnight supper in the big
vaulted kitchen. As we were honoured with the presence
of ladies a rat hunt took place before their arrival. Mr.
Gage was chief cook and turned out poached eggs with
rapidity and precision. Other details of the feast were
salmon mayonnaise sandwiches, hot coffee, a creme renversee
and Scotch short-cake. Miss Handley and Miss Palmer were
the guests of honour and members of the male staff, French
and English, were only too pleased to act as waiters.

In the winding-up of every hospital, the finding of new
places for the staff or making arrangements for their return
home is always a lengthy and difficult process. This was not
my duty, but I was glad to do what I could in this direction

THE MOVE TO JUILLY 131

for the nursing staff as well as for the men and I was well
repaid for my efforts by being able, through the consideration
of Colonel Burlingame, to set to rights many inequalities
which fell outside the regular rules.

My whole experience at Juilly, working as I did under a
fresh system, threw for me a new light on hospital adminis-
tration. The kindness of my Commanding Officer, Major
Farmer and the American doctors at Juilly and the cordial
comradeship of the American Red Cross officials in Paris,
remain a very pleasant and valued memory.

There stands to-day on my writing-table at Little Green
a reproduction in bronze of " On ne passe pas ! " a poilu,
bayonet firmly grasped, on the defensive. In this gift from
my brother officers at Ris and Juilly the remembrance of my
work at both hospitals is inseparably linked.

There are little incidents in the war, vivid pictures that
one has seen, that are still impressed on the memory.
Amongst these I remember an early summer evening in 1917
when at dinner Fraser said to me : " Have you ever seen
the big guns go through the station ? Let's walk down there
and watch them pass."

The station at Ris stretched east and west and the setting
sun threw long shadows of trees, telegraph-poles and bridges
pointing towards the fighting front. The platform was
thronged with all the inhabitants of the town, the mayor,
station-master and the local gendarme ; no loud voices, groups
talking together quietly and then we heard in the distance
the rumble of the heavy train coming from the west.

As the engine drew in to the station, it slowed down, so
that a little girl could hand her bouquet of flowers to one
of the soldiers standing beside the big gun — the great long
naval gun, black and terrible, but bedecked and garlanded
with flowers, the base heaped with bouquets, the offering of
the children at each station through which it had passed.
As the guns went by, the slow murmur of the voices could
be heard " A Verdun; a Verdun."

At the rear of the train came passenger coaches filled with
the gun crews who were to serve these defenders of France.
The men leaning out of the windows, waving their hats
and cheering, received an answering response from all on the
platform.

Of all the great battles of the war, Verdun, ghastly in its
carnage, stands out as the most heroic victory ever attained
by France in arms. Will the day come (let us hope it

132 V.R. 76

never will) when the world will forget the sublime spirit of
the French soldier who made true the phrase " They shall
not pass ! " ?

Those who were there have told me that they saw men
in the regiments marching up to the defence of that front
with the tears rolling down their faces and with one word
on their lips : " A la boucherie — a la boucherie" And yet
they went, with the full knowledge of all that it meant,
sinking their own small personalities in the individuality of
their country.

To serve such men when, weak, broken and distressed,
they were entrusted to our care, was a high honour.

PART II
A HOSPITAL GARLAND

CONTRIBUTORS

S. J. BALL
JOSHUA BOWER
LENA DAVISON
CAROLINE K. DUER
HOWARD FISHER
MONTAGUE FORDHAM
H. C. GAGE
F. GROTRIAN
H. B. GROTRIAN
AGNES LYALL
H. J. RECKITT
CHRISTINA ROBERTSON
J. M. W. SLATER

To /ace p. 135]

MISS CHKISTINA ROBERTSON, INFIRMlfcRE-MAJOR.

THE MATRON'S MEMORIES

ON February 2nd, 1916, 1 arrived at Ris-Orangis f rom New
York, to find a very comfortable and well -equipped improvised
hospital.

A fortnight later I was asked to fill the post of Infirmiere-
Major, which I did reluctantly, because my knowledge of
French was very limited and running a war hospital was a
new experience for me.

There were then about fifty-six patients in the hospital,
mostly convalescent, but in ten days' time our work began
in earnest. Train after train arrived until every bed was
filled and we were compelled to use some of the beds of
the nursing staff which were voluntarily handed over.

We had five other hospitals attached to ours (V.R. 76
being the operating centre), and the minor cases were passed
on, after they had been carefully examined, X-rayed and
dressed, to one of these smaller hospitals. The convalescent
patients were also passed on as soon as they could be moved,
to make room for fresh arrivals.

When a convoy of blesses arrived, they were divided
between the four different floors. A large mackintosh was
spread over the sheet and pillows, then two bathing blankets ;
in between these blankets were two or three hot wTater-bottles,
so as to ensure a warm, comfortable bed for our poor sick
men. After they had been placed in bed, their temperature,
pulse and respirations were taken ; then they received warm
nourishment, soup, coffee, etc. By this time they were
beginning to feel happier, and as the old patients gathered
round their beds and told them how well they had been
cared for, their spirits rose in a remarkably short time.

After they had finished their nourishment, they had a
bed-bath and clean clothes, and it would have been impos-
sible for a stranger coming into the wards an hour or two later
to have distinguished the new from the old patients, had it
not been for their fresh wounds.

After this their wounds were cleaned up, and some of
them needed it badly. Many had only had a field dressing

135

136 V.R. 76

and had not been touched for days, with the result that
granulations had grown through the meshes of the gauze.
In cases like this where the dressing would be very painful,
gas was administered. Then every patient was X-rayed
and his history taken before the Medecin-Chef made his
examination.

To me the receiving of the patients was the most harrowing
part of the work. To see those poor bruised, shattered
bodies, covered with the mud of the trenches, in many cases
adhering to their stretchers by their own blood, was almost
more than human flesh could stand. The look of utter
misery and dejection on their faces was pitiable to behold.
I have seen them patting the mattress when they were laid
on it, for sheer joy at once more being able to lie on a com-
fortable bed. In one case a boy, who had just been admitted
and was lying between the bathing blankets, was weeping
quietly to himself. When asked what was wrong he said,
" I thought I would lie between white sheets again." When
the bathing blankets were turned down, and he really found
himself between the white sheets, the smile of pleasure that
broke over his face was good to see.

I found the French soldier much more sentimental than
our British Tommy ; he was more easily amused and just as
easily depressed. All the same he was a splendid patient,
bearing pain with as much fortitude and grit as any Allied
soldier. I was much struck by their courtesy and gratitude.
Even after a very painful dressing, they would thank the
doctor and nurses in such an admirable way.

We were very fortunate in having the famous New York
surgeon, Dr. Joseph Blake, who did most wonderful work,
which the French Government recognised by conferring on
him the Legion of Honour. The doctors under him, inspired
by his zeal and keenness, gave their very best work.

The spirit among the nurses and orderlies was splendid.
Day and night they worked when necessary, with a cheerful-
ness that would have done credit to the Scottish character,
but in this instance we have to give credit to English, Scotch,
Irish, Canadian, American, Dutch and last, but not least,
French.

Here I would just like to pay a small tribute to the devotion
to duty of some of our brave Allies whom we were privileged to
have at Ris. Mademoiselle Douane is a very splendid example
of French devotion and patriotism. She was in full charge of
the Bandage-Room, all the complicated bandages and binders
were made by her and all dressings passed through her hands.

THE MATRON'S MEMORIES 137

She kept an alphabetical card system which she worked to
perfection. Every article she received in the way of dressings,
bandages, splints, etc., was checked and entered on her cards,
then she handed a copy of same to the director's office, when
the donor was duly thanked and courteously asked for more.
When they were handed out to the different wards she again
entered them as passed out, so that at a glance we could see
what we had in stock and also what had to be ordered.
Mademoiselle worked all the time until the hospital closed,
without a single day, or even half-day off. When urged
to take a holiday her answer was always the same, " This is
not the time for the women of France to rest, when their
men are facing death to make them free." The whole of her
services were voluntary.

When the rush came in March 1916 we were found poorly
staffed. One of the big wards of ninety beds had not been
opened, and getting more nurses quickly was rather a hard
business. As we were nursing French soldiers, the War
Office in London would not allow their trained nurses to come
to us, owing to the great need at home. In writing to Miss C.
Fraser, Superintendent of the home I nursed in in New
York, I told her of our difficulty and she kindly told Mrs.
Decker, who proved such a friend to the hospital afterwards.
They consulted together, and at once set about sending
nurses over to help.

I can remember well the first three nurses who arrived.
We had been working almost night and day, we were unable
to have one convoy of patients fixed up before another train
arrived, and the pressure was beginning to tell on the nurses
and orderlies. I had done my very best to get help from
Paris, England and Scotland, but I had only managed to get
two fever-trained nurses, and they were held up in London
for two weeks awaiting passports, etc. I was at my wits'
end and felt very despondent, when one day three American
nurses arrived quite unexpectedly.

Miss Fraser and Mrs. Decker, knowing how hard pressed
we were, took upon themselves to send on the nurses by the
first steamer, hence the reason of the happy surprise.

The next steamer brought other five nurses, all expenses
paid and salaries paid for six months. Miss Fraser knew the
standard of nurse that would suit our requirements and her
good judgment did not fail in this instance.

This was the hardest pinch we had regarding staff, as,
after a hospital is fully staffed, it is quite easy to keep it
going.

138 V.R. 76

Mrs. Decker of New York deserves great credit for all the
work she did in connection with the raising of money for the
nurses' salaries and also interviewing candidates. We were
also greatly indebted to Mrs. Percy Rockefeller for the
splendid gift of money, dressings, clothes, etc., she so
kindly sent.

The Tommy Atkins Club in New York did not forget us,
although they had many calls from our gallant Tommies,
both at the Front and in Germany. Many of the French
peasant families thanked me with tears running down their
cheeks, because the Tommy Atkins Club, along with other
private friends in New York, made it possible for me to
bring them to the bedside of their dear dying ones.

Many of the relations of the patients had been in the
invaded country and had lost everything and were unable to
come and see the last of their boys. When I got to know
this, I tried to interest as many as I could in helping in this
work and got a splendid response. If a patient was very ill
and the doctor considered his case grave, we found out at
once the circumstances of the family, and, if they were
unable to pay their fare, we gave them the money for it
and kept them at a small inn in the village until their loved
one was laid to rest.

I often wished that those who so kindly sent me money
for this work had had the joy of seeing how much it meant to
those poor mothers, fathers and children seeing again their
dear boys in this life.

Quite a number of friends in New York supplied artificial
legs and arms to the wounded who had the misfortune to
lose their limbs in fighting for their country. It was with
great pride that they stood once again on two legs. They
were very grateful indeed to the donors and in many cases
opened up a correspondence with their American friends,
that was still going on when they left the hospital.

The food was good both for patients and staff. Although
we were rationed by Government, we were never allowed to
be conscious of it, thanks to the founders of the hospital,
Lady Johnstone and Mr. Harold J. Reckitt, who did every-
thing in such a liberal and considerate wray. The comfort
of the patients and staff was their first consideration. Mr.
Reckitt's name was constantly being mentioned in connec-
tion with some kind act. He interested himself in every-
body's welfare, and anyone who needed a helping hand always
found a real and true friend in him. Lady Johnst one's
kind help and encouraging words did much to lighten the

THE MATRON'S MEMORIES 139

burden of those in the thick of the fray. Her sympathy and
kindness, I know, were much appreciated by the patients and
their relations.

Any civil hospital would have been proud of our linen-
room, which was arranged and conducted admirably by Miss
Colby and later by Miss Davison. We were blessed with
having any number of linen, blankets and clothing for the
men, independent of what we received from the Government.
When the patients left the hospital they were sent away with
warm underclothing, socks, etc., all supplied voluntarily by
different work parties in England, Scotland and America.

Home circumstances made it impossible for me to stay
until the hospital closed, and it was with very great regret
indeed that I said good-bye to all the friends who had treated
me with such kindness and consideration during my stay
among them. The handsome gift the directors and friends
gave me I will cherish as long as I live, and the kind thoughts
that prompted them to think of it I value more than I can
express in words.

I was also very proud to be the recipient of the gold medal
conferred on me by the French Government. I felt so
unworthy of it all when I compared the little I had done with
what those poor boys had passed through and sacrificed
for us.

The gratitude of France, delicately expressed in the following
Diploma, was tendered to Miss Christina Robertson in the
name of the President of the Republic : —

REPUBLIQUE FRANCHISE

MINISTERS DE LA GUERRE
Recompense pour Belles Actions

Medaille d'Honneur.
Au nom du President de la Republique.

Le Ministre de la Guerre a d6cerne une Medaille d'honneur
en Vermeil a Miss Christina Robertson, Infirmi ere -Major a
1'Hopital Militaire Johnstone Reckitt a Versailles.

A fait preuve d'un inlassable devouement aupres des
blesses francais.

Miss Christina Robertson est autorisee a porter cette
Medaille suspendue a la boutonniere par un ruban tricolore
egalement divise.

Ce diplome lui a ete delivre afin de perpetuer dans sa f amille
et au milieu de ses concitoyens le souvenir de son honorable
et courageuse conduite.

Paris, le 22 juin 1917.
P. Le Ministre de la Guerre.
Le Sous Secretaire d'Etat,
JUSTIN GODART.

The more intimate thanks of the Frenchmen who worked
with her at Ris were expressed, when she left the hospital, in
a few words whose military stiffness cannot conceal a deep
tenderness : —

The Officer of Administration of the Military
Hospital V.R. 76, Mr. Aribert. The sergeant
Pavie, the corporal, and the soldiers of the
French orderlies detachment

are glad to express

to

Miss CHRISTINA ROBERTSON,
Infirmi ere -Maj or,

their regrets for her departure, and their re-
spectful admiration for her untiring devotion,
and for the mother's care which she has given
for months to their comrades, the wounded
soldiers of the French Armies.

140

SOME MOVING PICTURES

A FEW days after my arrival in France I went down to
the hospital at Ris-Orangis in which I had come out to
work. It was an old clerical school, long abandoned, and
excellent for its new purpose.

With Orangis you are not very intimate. Ris you know
from end to end : its little walled-in houses with flowers in
all the gardens; its little dark shops with shelves of wares
in all the windows ; its inn divided in two by an alley which
tunnels under the best bedroom and opens into a bosquet at
the back, where you sit on green benches and eat your excel-
lent dinner off green tables with screens of green shrubs
about you — until the cold weather sets in ; its church with
the clock that always sounds the hours ahead of the railway
time and causes you to hurry off to the station in a fever and
chill yourself to the bone waiting for the train after you get
there — these things soon become familiar to you.

Why the " hour of the country " should be so much in
advance of the " hour of Paris," it is hard to tell. Appar-
ently each village is a law unto itself. Champrosay across
the river, for instance, is ahead of Ris. They say the Mother
Superior of the Convalescent Soldiers' Home there likes
everyone to be early for service and sets her chapel clock
accordingly. It has happened to me to return to Ris and
find, by its time, that I had not yet left Champrosay. Which
is disconcerting, to say the least of it !

Before the daylight-saving law came into effect the Mayor,
good man, tried putting on the church clock an hour just
to see how things would work. He had not, however, given
his plan sufficient publicity and those bewildered persons
who got up by the clock found themselves at a great dis-
advantage. The school was not open for the children.
The factory doors were still shut. The trains were not yet
due. No worm, in fact, was ready for any early bird. So
indignant groups met at corners, and indignant French
conversation (which sounds angrier than any other) went
off like bunches of fireworks in the morning air. The next
day the clock was put back again and so remained until
changed by national order.

141

142 V.R. 76

I suppose the village is ugly but, after you have seen it
under all aspects for a year, you grow sentimentally fond
of it. The sunset and the moonrise from the bridge over
the Seine you never forget — such opal lights on the smooth
stretches of the water; such long, dusky fields and lovely
lines of trees. Nowhere but in France would such a river-
bank be left unused and unspoiled by what we call progress.

The place does not lack dramatic happenings though it
is outside the war-zone. Once or twice the streets have
been full of Zouaves marching through to Paris or to entrain
at Juvisy and there is great excitement when they are
quartered at Ris for the night. Madame B., the great lady
of the village, whose seven sons are all now serving in France,
and whose son-in-law has been missing since the early days
of the war, will take the officers into her empty rooms. The
factory sheds, the carpenters' shops, the workrooms in the
vicinity will take the men. The whole population thrills to
the bright flags of their advance guard in the morning, the
wonderful double-quick step of the companies that follow,
the smoke and flame of their little fires here and there as
they cook their food at midday, the brassy sound of their
retreat bugles in the evening. Groups of superb young
blond and brown giants fill the doorways and courtyards
and the eyes of the women — girls, mothers and grandmothers,
are never tired of gazing at them.

Outside the inn, where I lived, I heard soldiers singing one
morning as they tramped along, and I jumped up to see them
go by. These were not very young men ; not splendid, large,
lusty creatures like the Zouaves. They were travel-stained
and dusty, but bronzed and fit and cheerful enough and they
swung down the street to the sound of their own singing.
At the corner opposite my window two great white oxen,
in charge of a small, pale-faced boy, stood waiting for them
to pass. The patient eyes of the beasts and the wondering
eyes of the child stared placidly at the soldiers. Peace
could not go about its business until war had passed.

That is not an easy picture to forget, nor the picture of
the great grey guns that used to pass the station of an even-
ing. Sent to the front from the works down the line, each
on its two or three trucks, all decorated with garlands and
bunches of flowers, the monsters would come puffing slowly
along, to the admiration of the whole village collected on
the platform. The four sentries guarding the gun never
moved, but the other soldiers and the train-crew always
leaned out of the carriages to accept new floral tributes

SOME MOVING PICTURES 143

and shake hands and return patriotic salutations. It
seemed a strangely intimate and companionable departure
for such an engine of destruction.

Another thing always to be remembered is the first funeral
at the hospital. The open hearse and its old black horse
standing just inside the gate; the coffin with the French
flag heavy on the shoulders of the stooping old bearers in
their long-tailed dress-coats, so pathetically ceremonious
and incongruous; the flowers in paper and the flowers
not in paper; the bead and metal wreaths brought by the
village women or contributed by the men in the hospital ;
the soldiers, in worn uniforms, brought from the nearest
depot to serve as guard to the dead; the priest and the
acolytes, their skirts blowing in the wind, one boy with a
cross, another swinging a censer, the littlest one in the back-
ground carrying the cure's umbrella in case of rain; the
English staff, with their hands raised in salute and such of
the doctors, nurses and orderlies as could attend; the long
procession winding through the narrow street, most of the
village following; the crowd at the church door; the heads
out of all the windows — I can shut my eyes and see it all
this minute. It was very touching to watch the wounded
who were well enough to be present. They limped up, one
after the other, to sprinkle the coffin with holy water and
were blessed by the priest before they came back to their
seats.

After the service the procession started off again to the
small cemetery and there a wounded officer, out for the first
time, his arm in a sling, made an address about the firesides
this little soldier had helped to protect, the lives his life had
been given to save. It was beautifully done and, when we
thanked him, he answered politely that he had been asked
to do this kind of thing before and the last time also people
had been very well pleased. He was a kind, capable and
distinguished officer. He was decorated, too, and promoted
before he left us ; on which occasion he solemnly kissed three
of the older nurses — evidence, I suppose, of the purity of his
goodwill.

One of the most picturesque characters in the hospital
is the carpenter, Toulouse — so-called from the town of his
birth. He must be one of the biggest creatures alive. Two
ordinary men could be enclosed in each of his trouser-legs,
and three in his coat. He is one of the strongest men in
France and can lift the most enormous weights but, un-
fortunately, he could not squeeze into any trench even

144 V.R. 76

sideways, so he was lost to the army. And this stupendous
male person I had the ill-luck to reduce to tears.

He was making me a cupboard with shelves and I ignor-
antly asked to have some of the shelves left out in one
division, that I might put in splints and other things that
I wished to stand upright. I imagined cupboards were
made with supports first, and the shelves fitted in after-
wards, as one would make a bookcase. But it is not so in
France. The shelves are made first and supports stuck in
between, and Toulouse could not bring himself to change
this method. So I had to abandon the idea. I then sug-
gested leaving out a support, thinking I might insinuate
my splints sideways. This he consented to do if I would
use the space on the floor, but as he completely circumvented
all my plans by putting up a board to keep out the dust
which also effectually kept out the splints, I lost my temper
and reproached him. Upon this he burst into a terrible
trickle of tears and declared it would need the disposition
of an angel to work for this hospital and, at the moment,
I heartily agreed with him. We were reconciled at Christmas
time and I gave him two of the biggest blue woollen sashes in
the world to make one ceinture of, that being his soul's desire.

The cook would be considered a fine figure of a man
anywhere else, but appears small beside Toulouse. He has
a portly presence and blossoms pinkly about the nose as
becomes a generous-souled person in a thirsty place. A
thought more would have been too much. A thought less
and he would have been altogether too handsome for the
peace of mind of the vegetable washers and the waitresses.
He makes the most wonderful soups under the sun, cooks
for two hundred wounded and all the helpers, orderlies,
nurses, doctors and English staff; gets up at five in the
morning and works till after eight every night and has never
lost an ounce of dignity nor an inch of his waist measurement.
The whole population of Ris ought to be described but
for the time it would take. There is the good woman who
sells newspapers — neat of figure and nearly always wearing
her " best blacks." And good, indeed, she is, for many a
book and pencil and package of cigarettes she gives to the
wounded ; many a parcel of shirts and socks she sends away
from her small shop to brothers and friends of theirs,
prisoners in Germany; many bewildered mothers and wives
she has fitted out with the pitiful mourning they suddenly
required when they came from a distance to see a sick man
and found instead an empty bed.

SOME MOVING PICTURES 145

There is her daughter, dark-haired and dark-eyed, with
smooth, dusky red cheeks, whose occupation is really em-
broidery, but who has had to take up her father's business
of distributing the newspapers through the country and
who may be seen in all weathers trudging from house to
house with the latest intelligence under her arm.

The upholsterer too has a daughter. She comes and
works (for nothing) twice a week in the Bandage-Room,
bringing a peony-faced friend with her. Anything neater
than their pleated print aprons and their crinkled hair I
have yet to see. When not at the hospital the young lady
and her mother (who looks much about the same age) do
what they may to keep the upholstery trade going, as the
head of the household is mobilised and away working at
munitions.

So is the butcher away, and his wife and daughter keep
his business going as well as they can.

It is said in Ris that, when the doctor was mobilised and
the inhabitants complained of it, the butcher was sent back
for a time. Why he was supposed to compensate them for
the loss of the doctor one hesitates to imagine. He could
not have proved adequate, however, or the authorities had
fresh need of him, for he has been summoned again since.
Perhaps it is to make up for this second disappointment
that the wife of the absent pharmacien has opened the
pharmacy for some hours every day. But she usually sends
up to the hospital for help when she has any order to fill, so
it seems as if her efforts were more characterised by goodwill
than efficiency.

The locksmith-cum-ironmonger, thank Providence, has
been left to us, for what the doctors would have done with-
out him no one knows. The apparatus he has made at
a few hours' notice; and made all over again when they
remembered that they'd forgotten to explain how they
wanted them modified here or enlarged there ! The number
of weights he has supplied between daylight and dark when
fresh fracture cases came in ! The strange appliances he
has had explained to him in English-French, and understood
and carried out in French-English, are not to be believed.
He also has a daughter, who works in the Linen-Room (for
nothing) twice a week.

The locksmith's daughter has a brother of about twenty
years old, who has quite lately been out to Africa to instruct
the negroes of the French possessions how to fight for France,
and has come back with his blacks (and a bad attack of

146 V.R. 76

fever) to see how they profit by his lessons. He is a very
good-looking boy and the family are justly proud of him.
One wonders if he can do this at twenty, what — if only he
lives long enough — he will do at forty? But he is a shy
boy and one would not like to ask him.

The shoemaker has a daughter too. Girls show up con-
spicuously in Ris with all the boys in the war. Her fiance
is away at the front, and she smiles at me very gravely
when I am trying to induce her parent to re-sole my shoes
under the ten days he demands to do any work in.

Then there is a perfect bevy of women who come to sew
at the hospital, and feel themselves anointed with the oil
of gladness above their fellows because they have the entree
there.

The spirit in which they work was made plain to me by
Madame R., whose husband and son are both at the front,
and whose pleasant pink face and beautifully arranged
hair bend suspiciously low over her nimble fingers whenever
the others mention her menfolk to her. Her husband's
going was quite unexpected, as he was well over the age-
limit. But she came the same day and, when I thanked
her and said how much we appreciated it, she answered :

" Not at all, mademoiselle, it helps us all to have work
to do for these unhappy ones. We hope someone else is
doing the like for ours."

They all think of that, these village women — what they
can do for the men nearest to them because some other
woman may be doing, or have done, as much for theirs.

There was one who had tramped quite a distance carrying
two greatcoats, excellent winter overcoats, which had
belonged to her sons in civil life. She wished to give them
to the wounded who might be too injured to go back to the
front, and too poor to supply themselves with clothes. Her
sons had ceased to belong to civil life, or any other. They
had been killed in Champagne. Her tears rolled out of a
pair of round, dazed eyes down her cheeks, which were also
round and of a strange varnished red, while she showed me
how well the coats were interlined with flannel and how
good the cloth was. She hoped that they would make
some of the poor men warm and last a lifetime. It was of
no use that she should keep them. She said she would
rather not go into the wards. She could not bear to see the
wounded. So she left the coats with me and tramped away
again into the dusk. I watched her sturdy old figure and
white cap disappear down the drive and hoped she was not

SOME MOVING PICTURES 147

ing back that long way to an empty house. She looked
ike a peasant, but the sons I imagined by their garments
to have been clerks in some city shop. She would probably
have had fine warm things herself if they had lived.

Another handsome, white-haired old person had a wonderful
padded splint which she wanted to offer to the doctors ;
since splints seemed to be the mode at the hospital. It had
been made to order expressly — this she impressed upon us —
for her son when he broke his leg as a child. But, having
been carefully preserved in the garret it was still in the best
condition, and would serve again, she hoped. As an arm-
splint for a man, perhaps, since her son had only been seven
when it was made to order so expressly for his leg. She
would not be satisfied until we had promised to send for it.
That son and three others, happily, are all alive still (it is
to one of them that the shoemaker's daughter is engaged),
and for their sakes their mother takes a certain number of
uniforms from the hospital every week to mend for the out-
going soldiers. And every seam she stitches so beautifully,
every hole she darns, every cut-to-pieces coat she fits with
fine patches, she does gladly for the men here because she is
grateful to another woman who is surely doing it for her
sons elsewhere. She has no daughter. One died in child-
hood, I know, for she told me she always kept white flowers
in the garden to put on her grave. But her daughter-in-law
helps her with the sewing, as a good daughter-in-law should.

THE BLACK ROOM

IT is natural that every head of a department should
think that only the best rooms in a hospital are suitable for
his work and endeavour to impress upon the powers that be
how all-important his contribution to the whole is. In fact,
one's head is bigger than the largest room in any hospital;
at least mine (though I was not then head) was certainly
larger than the first room that was suggested, which was
only ten feet by eight. Little did the Chief or I know how
fully justified my pleadings for a large room were, but we
were soon to learn how important the X-ray Department is
in a war hospital. Nearly every patient must pass through
it once and many quite a number of times, while in a civil
hospital not one patient in a hundred ever needs the X-ray.
There are broken bones to find and diseased conditions to
determine ; pieces of shell and bullets must be located.
Almost every soldier in hospital came into my hands for one
or all of these conditions.

The room which the X-ray Department secured — and it
was a fortunate choice, as will be seen later — was situated on
the first floor, immediately opposite the operating-room. It
was eighteen feet square.

Dr. Yeates and I at once set to work to adapt the place to
its new use. A dark room for photography was built in
with a good bench, shelves and sink. Its ventilation (a very
important point, since good work is impossible in a vitiated
atmosphere) left much to be desired until the department
was extended by the acquisition of another room.

The next step was to blacken the walls and as we were
anxious to be ready as soon as, or a little before, any other
department, we decided to undertake this little job ourselves.
I say " little," but my arm aches now at the thought. To
black-wash four walls and a ceiling ! Before it was half
finished I was sure it was the largest room in the hospital.

Had we only understood French well then, I am sure we
should have heard much to amuse us. The folk working
about the place would peer in at the door and speculate on
the why and wherefore of this queer room and, as we knew

148

THE BLACK ROOM 149

later, it was the one subject for gossip in the village — many,
I am sure, thought we were preparing for the practice of
black magic. No one ventured in during the blacking process
for fear of emerging, like ourselves, more black than white.
Captain Honnorat, on his tour of inspection, would stop short
at the door, bow and pass on, and it will be obvious we were
only on nodding terms with our best friends during this period.

While the electricians were busy installing the electric light,
we were occupied in unpacking plates and photographic
materials and investigating the contents of cases and crates
marked " X-ray " and getting ready to put together our
apparatus and give it a trial run.

The unit was originally intended for a field unit and not a
base hospital and this affected us more severely than any
other department, because an X-ray plant for field use must
be very portable and is constructed to work from accumu-
lators so as to be independent of electric mains, which would
not be found in the vicinity of a field hospital. So it will be
seen that our first equipment comprised the bare necessities
and was quite inadequate. Besides the photographic equip-
ment, we had a small ten-inch coil, with mercury break,
portable X-ray table and tubej stand and three tubes, a set
of accumulators and charging board. With this installation
limbs could be successfully seen through, while good photo-
graphs of the head and body could also be obtained with
exposures of some minutes' duration, but no records could
be taken of the heart and other organs in motion.

However, we opened and cared for our first patients with
this plant. We succeeded in modifying it in so far as to be
able to use the hospital electric supply and dispense with the
accumulators, but the whole apparatus was unsuitable for a
permanent installation from which heavy work was required.

Our first cases showed clearly the necessity for proper
equipment, especially as the hospital's activities were to be
largely extended, and Mr. Reckitt personally provided the
funds necessary for this purpose. It was found impossible
to obtain the outfit from England, as our own army was
taking the whole output of the manufacturers, and even had
this not been the case, the transport difficulties would have
caused many months' delay and to obtain spare parts and
replacements would have been a nightmare. So attention
was turned to the French manufacturers and it was with
dread I anticipated working with an apparatus conceived
and built on different lines to those with which I was
familiar, but the ultimate choice was never regretted and the

150 V.R. 76

vital question of repairs and replacement never troubled us,
for no breakdown ever occurred in spite of the heavy strain
to which the installation was constantly submitted.

I cannot speak too highly of the firm who undertook our
contract. Everything was eminently satisfactory, though
when all details were settled I certainly received a shock on
hearing that they could not deliver a stick without an order
from the Minister of War. Fortunately, the hospital was
important and the necessary order was immediately forth-
coming and delivery took place. The new heavy electric
cable was fixed from our dynamo in the basement only
fourteen days after the promised time.

I now took charge of the department with the assistance
of an orderly, as surgical work demanded the whole of Dr.
Ye ate s' time.

About the time that Dr. Joseph Blake came to us as
Medecin-Chef, work began in real earnest. My previous
experience in a field hospital gave me considerable advantage
and I had a keen appreciation of the shortcomings of X-ray
technique and the inadequacy of the information radiologists
were able to give to the surgeon. It was delightful to find
in the Medecin-Chef one who knew absolutely what he wanted
and what could and could not be obtained by way of X-ray
assistance. He not only appreciated the difficulties and
understood the methods then in practice, but gave many
helpful suggestions and, perhaps more important, gave
encouragement to every effort to improve the service. It is
not too much to say that Mr. Reckitt's generosity and interest
and Dr. Blake's encouragement and assistance were the
mainspring of the success the department ultimately attained
and of a reputation that extended far beyond the hospital
walls.

At this time surgeons felt acutely how unsatisfactory were
the results attending the X-ray determination of the exact
position of a piece of shell in a soldier's body.

Some of the methods in use were extremely accurate and of
mathematical precision while the patient or his limb remained
undisturbed upon the X-ray table, but of course he had to
be moved and it was impossible to replace him again in the
exact position he occupied when being operated upon. Such
methods stated that the foreign object, a bullet or a piece of
shell, as the case might be, lay in a vertical line passing
through a mark placed upon the skin and at a certain depth.
This seems at first sight to be sufficient and would certainly
be so were the limb a loaf of bread; the loaf could be cut

THE BLACK ROOM 151

down this vertical plane and the bullet would be invariably
found. How different is the actual case ; the limb is not
firm like a loaf, it will rotate in any direction and* as will be
seen, the slightest deviation will lead to an unsuccessful
operation. This is only one of the difficulties to be en-
countered. The tissues are malleable and it is frequently
impossible to incise in a straight line on account of intervening
important structures, like nerves and arteries, which must
be carefully preserved and retracted to the sides, introducing
further complications. It may be seen, therefore, that the
exact determination of the position of these shell fragments
(and sometimes there were many in one patient) offered
scope for ingenuity.

I decided to attempt the development of a method I had
been using at a field hospital previously. This effort was
crowned with success and resulted in the solution of this
problem of localisation. Several instruments and appliances
were required in the method that I worked out and the models
Dr. Blake himself made in his own workshop. It will be
sufficient to say here that, after the inauguration of this
method of localisation of a foreign body, only two attempts
were unsuccessful out of 306 operations. This success was
undoubtedly largely due to the fact that Dr. Blake operated
most of these cases himself, applying his knowledge of the
principles employed in the localisation. I have seen many
published statistics, but as yet have not seen our record
broken.

Encouraged in this way, I sought to remove the possi-
bility of a repetition of our two unsuccessful operations and
to this end it was thought desirable to make X-ray observa-
tions in the operating-room, so that, should the bullet not
be found immediately, no prolonged search should be made,
with its consequent mutilation of tissue, but the X-rays be
used and the localisation re-established. To this end our high-
tension wires were carried across the passage that intervened
between the operating-room and the X-ray room and in this
way only the X-ray tube and the stand to carry it were
required in the operating-room. This arrangement proved
a boon in many cases offering peculiar difficulties.

Dr. Blake's method of treating broken limbs by suspension
and extension early brought up the desirability of taking
radiographs of the patient as he lay in bed. The surgeon,
having made his decision as to treatment with the help of
the radiographs taken when the patient was admitted, would
naturally like to know exactly the result obtained by his

152 V.R. 76

manipulations and appliances, and whether any readjustment
would improve the positions of the bones. It became evident
that radiographs taken without disturbing the patient by
transport to the X-ray room would be very desirable. So
bedside radiography of evety fracture became a special feature
as early as 1915.

It was here that our first field outfit proved very useful
and an order was put through in Paris for a small four-wheeled
base on which to transport it. Delivery could not be promised
for several months, so a temporary contrivance was made
by fixing four castors on the legs of an old chest of drawers,
which served the purpose until the iron trolley was ready for
use and, strange to say, delivery of the trolley and collapse of
the chest took place "simultaneously.

Many difficulties were encountered in this bedside work,
chiefly because there was not much space available between
beds in which to arrange the necessary apparatus and to keep
the wires conveying the high-tension current from coming
in contact with the patient or the metal parts of his splints
and so giving him an unpleasant shock. I was able, however,
by the happy production of a simple tube and plate carrier,
to dispense with the old cumbersome tube carrier, so that the
manipulation was made easier and at the same time better
plates were obtained. The first models were made by Lindsay
Bury, and one of them was presented at one of the meetings
of the French Military Radiological Conference. Later details
with description, technique and illustration were published
in a paper in the Archives of Radiology.

The demands made upon us increased almost daily and
the consumption of plates, with their high cost and the
difficulty in procuring them, was becoming serious, although
plates were not used when a screen vision would suffice.
But for the bedside radiographs of fracture already referred
to, very large plates were desirable and the price of these
was almost prohibitive.

This turned our attention to the possibility of the use of
bromide paper and after a number of experiments with
various papers and modification of the developing solution
and a special technique, we were able to produce radiographs
direct on paper with a comparatively short exposure. There
was now no hindrance to taking as many radiographs as
might be required for repeated verification of the position
and consolidation of fractures. Our expenses were halved
by this practice, which was extended to other classes of work
and was quite suitable for pictures for foreign bodies when

THE BLACK ROOM 153

required, or to complete the history and evacuation papers of
a case. A plea for its use in the form of a paper was
published in the Archives, and later a further advance in
technique made another paper on the subject desirable, which
also appeared in the Archives.

As the winter months of 1916 were approaching and
it was realised that we should get but few fresh patients
for this period, arrangements were made to recall to the
hospital cases that needed operations, such as bone-grafts,
nerve sutures or transplantation of tendons, with the object
of restoring a useless limb as a satisfactory member. For
tendons and nerve cases it was particularly necessary for the
surgeon to know all that could be known as to the condition
of the muscles and nerves of the part, whether the passage of
the bullet through the limb had cut completely through a
nerve or only partially destroyed the continuity of the nerve
fibres.

Electrical methods can help greatly in the diagnosis of
these cases and electro-therapy will often go far towards
effecting a cure. To this end it was thought desirable to
instal an electro-therapeutic department. This it fell to my
lot to do. Its desirability had long been in my mind and
I had visited several centres, chiefly French, to ascertain
the efficacy obtained. I found this very satisfactory and,
profiting by the published experience of previous workers
and generous advice obtained from the special centres I had
visited, we were able to start well.

A suitable room was equipped on the ground floor and
proved to be a valuable addition to the hospital. A little
later on the work was extended further and hot-air apparatus
was added, such hot-air treatment to be followed by massage
or electricity. Most of the treatments were given at the
bedside by the masseuse, special portable apparatus for the
heating being used.

Later we received the gift of a Simpson or S-ray apparatus.
It comprised a special arc lamp and reflector, and its curative
properties were due to the production of a considerable
quantity of ultra-violet rays in the arc formed between the
two electrodes, which were composed of wolfram. At the
time the physiological response was not completely under-
stood, but certainly many sluggish wounds were induced to
heal quickly under this stimulating influence.

For these treatments an ambulance service was organised
to bring patients three days a week from our auxiliary hos-
pitals, so that the benefits conferred could be as widely
distributed as possible.

154 V.R. 76

We were up against one big difficulty, the necessity for
a constant supply of electrodes, and to obtain the material
for these a special concession had to be obtained from the
Government. As the supply was very limited, we were
often without the electrodes and the treatments had to be
suspended.

Towards the end of the winter I made a plea for the en-
largement of the X-ray room by the addition of the adjoining
ward. In view of the probable heavy casualties of the
spring campaign and the large share we should receive (which
materialised earlier than we expected), we had organised an
ambulance service for the transport of patients to the X-ray
department from other hospitals in the vicinity, including a
sanatorium for tuberculosis. The request was acceded to and
at about the same time we received a generous gift of money
from the village, which provided several items I felt the
need of, but was loath to ask for on account of expense. Under
these new conditions we entered cheerfully into the work
that lay before us, seeking to improve our technique and
increase our efficiency.

The arrival of Miss Mabel Slater, D.Sc., marked a new
epoch in the activities of the department. Few hospitals
had the advantage of the services of a physicist : only one
hospital in London could boast of such an acquisition to its
staff, the appointment being made but a few years before
the War.

Preparation was made for fresh investigation of defects in
technique and such physical phenomena as secondary radia-
tion, which detracts to a large extent from the detail to
be obtained in radiographs. Unfortunately, at this time
we were uncertain as to the continuance of the hospital and
attention was turned to the completion of half-finished
papers and books, and to this work Miss Slater readily
addressed herself. It included the revision of the book on
Localisation and the provision of the more technical drawings
and the assembling and overhauling of the manuscript and
illustrations for The X-Ray Diagnosis of Bone Conditions in
Compound Fractures, which necessitated the extraction of
material from some five hundred histories of cases as well
as the preparation for publication of several minor papers.
Miss Slater's knowledge and previous experience, gained in a
London hospital under the tuition of one of London's \>
men, was a great asset to the department. Her kindi
and patience endeared her to the blesses who came to her as
her share of the routine work, and such work was always

THE BLACK ROOM 155

admirable. Her presence gave me a much-appreciated free-
dom, and when I was absent relieved me of a great deal of
anxiety. For this unstinted service I proffer that most
inadequate acknowledgment : my best thanks.

The list of publications given in the Appendix shows that
we had some measure of success in our efforts. My assistants
and orderlies were responsible for some part of each publica-
tion, either the drawings, photographs or radiographs. Two
communications remain unpublished owing to the abrupt
termination of the War.

Dr. Blake and Colonel Keller also enlisted the services of
our department in the preparation of their various books
and published papers. The help given by Applegarth and
his previous experience in draughtmanship were of value,
not only to myself in the preparation of illustrations for
publication, but also in the preparing of the specifications
for Colonel Keller's splint. I must also put on record
Mr. Beer's interest in things medical and scientific, which
made him keen to learn what was to be done. He was
extremely useful and I was grateful for his never-failing
readiness to do his best at all times. He was popular with the
patients and also with the members of the French detach-
ment, from whom he was able, by virtue of his smile, to
obtain assistance whenever necessary.

Our department contributed the photographic side of the
records, such as photographs of wounds, specimens, apparatus
and micro-photographs. Another " odd job " was the
preparation of over seven hundred lantern slides used in the
courses organised for medical officers of the U.S. army.

Here I must mention Frost. No account of the activities
of the department would be complete without putting on
record his excellent services as photographer. He was trans-
ferred to us from ward service ; however, nothing came amiss
to him and in a few weeks he was complete master of his
work, and many of our best records and specimen radiographs
are due to his skill. He was a most conscientious worker,
and his personality left pleasant memories to reflect upon.

A few photographs of specially interesting cases will
illustrate the work of the X-ray Department better than
any detailed description.

PASSAGES FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE
ASSISTANT RADIOGRAPHER

April 12, 1918.

TO-DAY was a whole day off, so I went into Paris by the
9.6 train and spent the morning wandering about with a
map visiting one or two shops and improving my knowledge
of Paris generally. . . . It is enough to make one weep to be
near Paris for six months and to have every picture-gallery
and museum in the place shut up. I know they are not
what I came for, but still

April 13.

Last night just as we were thinking of going to bed the
light suddenly went out, and we discovered that there was
an air raid on Paris. Our dormitory windows look straight
towards Paris, and it was very pretty to see the searchlights
and the lights of the aeroplanes and the flashes of the guns
every now and then. The raid did not last long, but I hear
this morning that there were a good many casualties. One
thing that strikes one on coming here from England is
the much more informal character of the hospital run on
American and Canadian lines. I found it quite an effort
to get into the way of calling the matron and the M.O.
by their names, after the drilling I had had in Cambridge.
The Medecin-Chef, Major Penhallow, is very nice to work
with. He treats one like a man and a brother. He comes into
the X-ray Room and discusses his cases as if one were of his
own standing in the hospital. . . . After dinner I had a
game of auction bridge with two British officer patients and
one of the doctors.

April 21.

I got my bicycle and went off into the forest. It is a
delightful place; it varies a lot as one goes through it, but
the dominant note is that of the birches, now a lovely delicate
green. Birches and oaks, birches and heather, and then
birches growing more in the open with lots of flowers among
them. I reached the wild daffodils, which I was glad to
find not yet over. I ate my lunch in a clump of heather

156

This case shows in the radiograph two round dark areas where two pieces of
the skull, one on either side of the forehead, were blown away by a shell. The
extraordinary feature is that the soldier never lost consciousness and recovered
perfectly and left hospital normal and well.

(3)

These two radiographs show the explosive effect of a high-velocity projectile;
the bone is frequently smashed for half its length and into dozens of pieces. These
are very trying cases, because some pieces of bone are killed by the original impact,
while others are killed by the microbic infection, and all of these have to be removed.
Sometimes many operations have to be performed, and recovery is very slow and
often incomplete. Efforts of Nature are insufficient to grow enough bone to
bridge the gap, and a flail limb remains, necessitating a bone-graft. Before this
is done months must elapse after the wound has healed, to prevent a recurrence
of infection from bacteria that remain in the tissues for a long time. In spite of
long waiting, this will sometimes occur, preventing the graft from effecting union.

(4)

Tirot was an interesting case. He came to us on Sept. 25, 1915, with a
shattered left arm. He was radiographed immediately (left) and operated on the
same day. Part of the bone has been shot away and devitalised fragments have
had to be removed, leaving a gap of 5 cm. between the bone ends.

By Oct. 15, the infection had subsided and the wound was healing, but three
months later there was still no approach to union of the bone. An operation for
grafting was therefore performed, a piece of bone 7 cm. long being taken from the
leg and fixed into the ends of the broken bone of the arm, so as to bridge the gap.
Subsequent radiographs showed that new bone was growing well (right), but,
unfortunately, on March 14, Tirot had a nightmare and broke the graft in the
middle. Later X-ray plates showed no attempt of the graft to reunite, and on
July 1 a second graft was inserted. Though plenty of new bone was formed, the
lower end unfortunately refused to unite again. An apparatus was made, so
that the patient could use his arm, to see if use would effect what rest had failed
to do. However, he had to be evacuated before the final result could be known.

This case was an exceptionally difficult one. Many of our patients are now
walking on solid limbs, successfully repaired by bone-grafting.

(5)

Testing the nerves and muscles of the arm to discover the cause of
the loss of functions of the arm. In some cases it was possible to
show that no injury had occurred to the nerve and that the loss of
functions was hysterical in nature.

(6)

*£? t- " S I < ^ e

JOURNAL OF THE ASSISTANT RADIOGRAPHER 157

and lay there nearly two hours with a book, getting back to
hospital in time for tea. I found it was late to-day as the
chaplain had come out from Paris to take a little service.
Fortunately it was not a long one. So it was a little more
like Sunday than last week.

April 27.

Work as usual. I got a nice cycle ride after lunch with
two of the Canadian nurses. It was quite warm and sunny
for a change. The lilac and chestnut will be in full flower
in a few days and all the endless avenues are of the loveliest
green. The first cuckoo has arrived in the forest. After
dinner I went into the garden of an old chateau near, now
an artists' retreat, to which our staff has unofficially the
entree. In front of the chateau is a pool, behind it a green
hill, and around it are some of the most beautiful trees I
have ever seen, in particular a great double cherry in full
flower and some magnificent copper beeches. Before we
left the garden a nightingale started to sing, and I heard
them still in the distance before I went to sleep.

April 30.

You never know where you are in a hospital like this.
We had stopped playing bridge, and were just tucking up
our partners for the night at 10.30 (at which hour the electric
current is normally shut off) when a message came that an
emergency case had just arrived and wanted X-raying. So
I went down to see if it was anything interesting. It was a
man who got his foot run over by a train at Corbeil station,
but, after all, there was nothing doing, the damage was
obvious without an X-ray and the Major had the man taken
straight to the theatre. The ambulance was out fetching
some ordinary blesses from Juvisy, but as there was no
knowing how long they would be, all of us who could, went
to bed.

May 4.

To-day was Mr. Reckitt's birthday. He celebrated it by
providing the whole hospital with champagne for supper,
and further supplemented the usual7 dinner of the staff
with salmon mayonnaise and the most delicious fresh straw-
berries. The champagne was extremely good, but I think
it must have been very light, for we all drank it out of
tumblers with no ill-effects.

May 7.

Since dinner I have had quite a long talk with Miss Davies,

158 V.R. 76

our bacteriologist. She was struck two or three years ago
(as any one must be who works in a war hospital) with the
fact that it is not so much the wounds themselves that are
so deadly as the poisonous germs that almost invariably get
into them, from the skin, bits of clothing, etc. She made
a great many experiments on the effect of treating clothing
with disinfectants before introducing it, along with various
disease germs, into wounds. Finally, she found a cheap and
apparently very effective substance which seems to offer an
excellent chance of at least largely reducing the injury and
suffering consequent on wounds. Two or three other people
have worked on the same lines, the results have been pub-
lished in The Lancet, etc., and entirely approved of by all
the medical men to whom they have been submitted, but
she cannot get the War Office, or anybody in authority, to
give the thing a trial. All the encouragement Miss Davies
has had so far has been : " You may get it adopted in time
for the next war."

July 19.

All things come to him who waits, and we have had a
real field day at last. Knowing that the cars were out, we
started the current directly after breakfast (before that I
had seen to Jack's job in the dispensary). We began with
two new cases who had come in the night, Americans and
both very bad, poor boys, so that they took as long as half-a-
dozen light cases. Then we had some old cases, so that we
worked steadily till lunch, when the new convoy began to
arrive. They were nearly all walking cases, and they came
thick and fast. Jack being away, I did the developing of
the plates, but a great many of the cases did not need plates,
so I also had time to help with the fluoroscopic examination
and to do some of the cases myself when Mr. Gage was other-
wise occupied. About dinner-time there was a pause, so
we were able not only to get some food, but to make out
reports up to date. It was desperately hot all day, especially
in the dark room, and at 8.15 I happened to say to Mr. Gage
that a swim would have been a boon. He assured me that
the next batch would not be ready for a long time and
urged my getting a swim then, while I could, and I got back
in time to develop the first plate Mr. Gage had taken. We
worked again at high pressure till 10.30, when in another
short pause Mr. Middleweek invited us to adjourn for a little
light refreshment and a cigarette. Then more blesses ; at
1.30 we shared with the rest of the surgical staff a very
cheerful supper, for the rush of work had put everybody into

JOURNAL OF THE ASSISTANT RADIOGRAPHER 159

the best of tempers. Mr. Gage was in the highest spirits,
cracking jokes with all the blesses who were well enough;
while Dr. Smith had never been so happy since he arrived.
We got through about 3 a.m. ; final examination of special
plates and discussion on them with the doctors took some
time longer, and I got into bed between 3.30 and 4. We
had just done one hundred cases in the day (and night).

July 20.

We have had another great day. I began as before with
dispensary work; after breakfast I started on reports,
having only got about the first thirty cases finished last
night. With Mr. Gage's help I got them done by 11.30,
when we went down to the river for a very good swim. On
the way back to lunch we saw the cars preparing to start
again. Mr. Gage had important business in Paris, and I
should have been left absolutely single-handed but that B.,
like a trump, realised the situation, and came and offered her
services as a developer and general orderly. As she had done
quite a good deal of work in the X-ray department in the
course of her hospital experience, I accepted gratefully. The
new cases were all couches and nearly all badly wounded,
but as they were also straight from the battlefield they not
only took me longer to do, but it took much longer to get
them washed and dressed, and so they arrived slowly in the
X-ray room, and we were able to keep pace with them. A
large proportion we handed on to the theatre for immediate
operation, and for these I had to make out reports as I went
along. Mr. Gage did not get back until I was doing the last ;
I was glad to get his opinion on one or two plates, but I was
also very glad to find that I could get on as well as I had
done without him. I accused him of staying away on
purpose, te see how I could manage without him; he said
he hadn't, but he had been sure I should be all right.

July 21.

Mr. Gage started by saying that Sunday was my free day,
and I mustn't come on duty, but I pointed out that I must at
least finish up my reports of yesterday's cases, and as things
turned out I was busy till tea-time. We had one of the new
American boys down this morning for localisation of an eclat,
and Dr. Smith came in to discuss the case with Mr. Gage.
They then went on to another — a very black Senegalese, who
came in on Friday with a broken leg, which Mr. Gage urged

160 V.R. 76

Dr. Smith to reduce under the radioscope as soon as possible
and for which he told him he thought his new apparatus (the
one we were photographing only the other day) would be a
great help. Dr. Smith caught on to the idea at once, and said,
'Well, what's the matter with having this party to-day ?"
So the current was ordered on again for the afternoon and
we had a great time. The Major and the anaesthetist were
out, so it was arranged that we should have the man in the
X-ray room, Mr. Gage should give the ether and superintend,
and I should do the working of the X-ray tubes and help
Dr. Smith. This we accordingly did, and the plates taken
when the operation was finished showed a beautiful result.
The sight of that nigger on the table would have appealed to
D's artistic soul — jet-black skin, with white eyes shining
out with the rather scared effect they always have in such
faces, a short white shirt, and a white sheet underneath;
the effect by the strong electric light was striking in the
extreme. |

By a little after five we were free, and I got an hour's
tennis before dinner. After dinner I started typing this —
was interrupted for a bit by visitors, and before I had done
Dr. Smith came in and asked me to call up the theatre staff,
as four Americans and an accident case were all coming in
for immediate operation. When I had called nurse, matron
and anaesthetist (who were all in bed or just getting there, poor
dears) I went down to help wash the new cases, as none of
them was ready for X-raying yet. While I was down there
the accident case was brought in, nearly shouting the house
down. It was a soldier en perm., who had put his hand
through a pane of glass at the station and cut an artery,
and he was mad drunk. Most fortunately Mr. Gage had
been down to the station and met the ambulance in diffi-
culties— four French orderlies quite unable to tackle the
man, who was in a fair way to bleed to death. Mr. Gage
got on his chest and managed to get hold of his wrist and
saw him safe into the operating theatre — from which I found
Mr. Gage emerging looking like a murderer.

While I was washing one of the American boys, the Major
called me to look at another, which he said was a typical gas
case — I didn't need him to tell me that when I looked at it.
All four of these men had been wounded about three days,
and had been travelling most of the time — chiefly in cattle-
trucks with no surgical help. There was only the one acute
gas case — a perfectly appalling leg — but all the wounds were
very dirty. Two bad French blesses were brought in from

JOURNAL OF THE ASSISTANT RADIOGRAPHER 161

Juvisy before we had washed this lot — also cases for immedi-
ate operation, one of them being gas in a comparatively
early stage. The X-raying was done and the reports sent
in to the theatre some time after midnight; I went in and
watched the operations for a while, for they were particularly
interesting ones, but at three I retired with a view to
to-morrow's work.

July 24.

We have got breathing space at last. This morning I
finished up all outstanding jobs and delivered my last reports.
When I was up in Salle O. I got called in to help with a
couple of dressings. The wards, of course, are as busy as
ever. The Major inquired at the American Red Cross a day
or two ago for a few more nurses and doctors and was told
he might consider himself lucky to have the staff he has
got, for most of the hospitals in this district now are much
understaffed.

July 27.

Some more new cases arrived in the night. X-raying
them and reporting on the other batch took all the morning
and a bit of the afternoon. After dinner we had quite a
new amusement. About a dozen of us went over to the
American Aviation Camp for a little scratch dance. They
came and fetched us with a couple of beautiful cars. I
enjoyed the ride each way as much as any part of the evening.
The camp is an enormous place, with about two thousand
men and two or three hundred machines. The dancing did
not amount to much, but it was quite amusing for a change,
and I talked to some nice American boys, mostly very fresh
out. We were back by twelve.

July 31.

I now" have a cubicle with a big window all to myself,
through which I can see the stars as I lie in bed, and with
B. and Miss D. on either side, we are a pleasant little party.

August 27.

I had a lovely morning in the forest and brought back
some blackberries, with which, and a couple of apples from
the park, I made a pot of very good jam to help out the very
dull biscuits which are all we have for tea nowadays. Having
played truant all the morning, I worked the rest of the
day.
M

162 V.R. 76

August 29.

Our patients are all getting well now. I had a little talk
with Marcoz in the garden this morning. He will be going
in a few days now, and he tells me that the powder factory
have promised him a job, so with that and an army pension
for the loss of his arm he ought to be quite all right. The
half-dozen Americans who came to us so very ill four or five
weeks ago are all getting about the park now, looking almost
well again in their khaki. That's the sort of thing that makes
hospital work a pleasure.

September 9.

The hospital is getting horribly empty, the small wards
are nearly all cleared out, and Salle O. is a desert, with a
fringe of beds round its edge. It is just hateful to think of
this place being given up ; it is so nice in every way, and so
well fitted up — I much doubt if we shall ever be so bien
installe again. Still, it is some satisfaction to know that
the unit is not being disbanded ; I only wish I could go with
the rest to start the new place.

September 14.

There is in a village a few miles from here an old seven-
teenth-century chateau, Viry-Chatillon, now a convalescent
hospital. I heard some time ago about its beautiful garden,
and I had always been meaning to cycle over with D., when
a few days ago there came an invitation for all the staff to a
garden-party there this afternoon. We drove in an ambu-
lance. It was a perfect afternoon, bright and sunny, and
the garden — a miniature Versailles — was as charming as the
photos had led me to expect. They had a very good open-
air concert going on, with songs and recitations, largely
given by professionals from the Opera Comique, Theatre
Fran9aise, etc. The recitations were largely topical, several
of them about the days of victory and peace that are coming,
but the spirit of them was not a bit boastful — they rather
gained an added pathos from the knowledge (which no
victories, however splendid, can make one forget) that the
time is not come yet. But the news is assuredly grand,
and there is a great feeling of elation and confidence in the
air now.

September 20.

We had quite a heavy day over MS. and packing up until
tea-time, when B. arrived from Paris, and I knocked off work
to talk to her and get ready for the dissipations of the evening.
For we gave a farewell dance, and it was a great success !

JOURNAL OF THE ASSISTANT RADIOGRAPHER 163

Salle O. was cleared and made a most beautiful dancing-
room, we got the Aviators' band from the Orly Camp to
play, and we invited the officers from both camps, friends
from the Paris hospitals, and a few of the Ris people.
Everybody seemed to enjoy it and the whole evening went
with a swing. We were all sorry to stop at 12.30.

September 22.

We are getting very much to the end of things now, and
farewells are the order of the day. Lady Johnstone was
over to lunch and presented to Mrs. Clapp from herself and
Mr. Reckitt a beautiful hand-bag, with the announcement
(which was news to us all) that Mrs. Clapp is not going to
be matron at Juilly, but is going into an American army
hospital when we have got settled in. It is a great dis-
appointment to many of the nurses and will make the unit
lose a good deal of its identity, but it appears that the old
matron is not leaving Juilly, and obviously they are not both
wanted there.

This afternoon there was a little reception at the Mairie,
and the Mayor of Ris presented the thanks of the district to
Mr. Reckitt and Lady Johnstone for all they have done here,
with two bronze plaques as a memorial. There were various
speeches, and the Mayor said, among other things, that they
are going to re-name one of their streets Rue Johnstone-
Reckitt — a very graceful tribute.

SAUCEPANS AND SOFT DRINKS

LOOKING back to October 1915, my prevailing impression
is one of complete topsy-turvydom, dating from the day
on which Mrs. Kennedy's telegram pitchforked me into a
depressing war-swept London at two days' notice, till the end
of my first month at Ris. That week-end in London assumes
nightmarish proportions in retrospect ; it was the clock-case
of a pendulum which swung me alternately between hope
and despair. Marooned in Pall Mall, surrounded on three
sides by an obdurate Anglo-French Committee (apparently
devoid of even a tinned variety of the milk of human kind-
ness), and on the fourth by a host of friends and relatives
whose enthusiastic send-off made return unthinkable, my
outlook was far from cheerful. In fact, at one stage of the
proceedings I bade a silent farewell to all hope of the Diet
Kitchen and foreign service, and almost made up my mind
to an ignominious retreat. Almost — not quite 1 And two
days later saw me en route for Paris.

I reached Ris about 11 p.m., cold, tired, entirely miserable —
and the Diet Kitchen met me on the very threshold and
ministered comfort, hot cocoa and a slice of Mrs. Kennedy's
apple-pie. It was our first introduction and, though the
ensuing weeks saw temporary estrangements, I can truthfully
say that the Diet Kitchen and I never completely lost faith
in one another.

The hospital itself was not yet in running order when the
first convoy arrived, some five days before my arrival and as
the staff was still a mere skeleton of nurses and doctors,
departments such as the kitchens, Store, and Diet Kitchen
were working at a severe disadvantage. How Mrs. Kennedy
ran the Diet Kitchen that first week and lived to tell the tale
passes my comprehension; the month that followed nearly
whitened my hair, I know. No scrubwoman, a geyser of
more than usual perversity (geysers and mules are now
indissolubly connected in my mind), and a gas supply that
expired at intervals with a fluttering, hopeless sigh regardless
of an inexorable dinner-hour, were three of the major crumples
in my roseleaf .

The gas problem was the most acute. One could and did

164

SAUCEPANS AND SOFT DRINKS 165

scrub one's floor and woodwork ; a hand-to-mouth supply of
hot water could be obtained with the help of a primus, but
try to cook ten to fifteen meals on two primus stoves with
half-a-dozen vociferous ward orderlies waiting to be served,
and you will desist from the effort with a certain sympathy
for all cooks tied to the taps of gasless gas-stoves.

In those days life was a wild rush from early morn till
dewy eve, a sort of jumbled jigsaw puzzle whose pieces by
some odd chance fitted. For that first month my day began
at 7.30 a.m. and finished somewhere about 9.30 p.m., with a
snatched half -hour for " off duty " in the afternoon, and the
work included anything and everything that affected diets,
and quite a good deal that didn't.

Each morning at eight o'clock I handed in the day's list
to the Chef in the Big Kitchen, from whom I got meat,
bones, milk, vegetables and all perishable stuffs, while sugar,
flour, etc., were indented for to the Store upstairs. Many
things that would have been considered indispensable in the
Diet Kitchen of a civil hospital were naturally either luxuries
at Ris, or simply non est. Luxuries could be had in very
special cases if due warning had been given before market
day (all supplies were brought twice a week from the Paris
Holies by camion), but fish suitable for invalids was prac-
tically unobtainable, chickens were too expensive to be
indulged in without a chit from Matron, and even eggs and
milk could not always be had in the necessary quantities.
Consequently, one had to cut one's coat very much accord-
ing to one's cloth, and do the best possible with the material
to hand.

Sometimes I felt it to be a most inadequate best, but the
nurses were invariably kind and met me half-way in the
matter of ordering diets; where a very sick patient was in
question they almost always came down personally to see
what could be done, and nobly refrained from ordering the
sweetbreads and creamed chicken of pre-war days. Drinks
presented less difficulty, and egg-nogs, lemon albumen, barley-
water, and such distinctly French liquids as tilleul and
camomile, were made by the quart. Later the Medecin-Chef
decreed that no meat was to be included in the diets, except
in beef -tea, beef- juice, etc., which lightened my work con-
siderably, but made it almost impossible to provide any
variety of food.

Another great difficulty we encountered in the matter of
dieting at Ris was the average Frenchman's invincible dislike
to milk and all milk preparations. In face of firm insistence

166 V.R. 76

it might be swallowed but, even when running a really high
temperature, the poilu loudly expressed a desire for bouillon
and red meat and, in cases where meat and vegetables were
absolutely forbidden, the feeding often became a very real
problem.

By the middle of November things were practically put
into shape. The Diet Kitchen staff now consisted of myself,
a part-time orderly, who proved a veritable tower of strength
both here and later in the Linen-Room, and Marie, a sturdy,
capable little Norman, who came on duty in the afternoon
and remained to cook the night nurses' supper at midnight.
That was the Golden Age of the Diet Kitchen. We polished
and scrubbed till the aluminium saucepans shone and the
deal table was as white as its absent cloth.

The local grocery had yielded up treasures in the shape of
bowls and jugs of all sorts and sizes; Fanny and Suzanne,
generously proportioned and richly yellow, had the place of
honour on the table against the wall ; Theobald, Horace and
Caroline, lilac-sprinkled triplets, reposed on the tiled shelf to
the left of the window, while Helen, a lilac jug with a Greek
profile, was dedicated to our nosegay, and made her home on
the high, deep-set window. Regiments of jugs drilled on every
shelf, and I may mention incidentally the horrid internecine
warfare that raged between Diet Kitchen and Ward for their
possession. Women of otherwise impeccable moral worth
descended to the lowest depths of perjury to retain ill-gotten
gains. Nightly raiding parties (Simpson and Marie, either
singly or in outraged combination) left the kitchen for the
recovery of our vanished property, and many a jug has been
triumphantly tracked to its carefully-built lair in a ward
linen cupboard.

My conscience gives me an occasional twinge as I reflect
on our harshness with regard to missing jugs. Later, dur-
ing the coal shortage, when gas was but a memory and
central heating existed for a bare two hours a day, one's
only chance of an "all-over" wash in hot water was a
sufficiency of full pitchers left on the radiator to achieve
what tepid warmth they might during the short period of its
activity. And, personally, I must admit to acquiring a
certain breadth of view as to the rights of property. Nor
could my room-mate show an entirely clean sheet in this
matter. We confess with shame, that as many as four tall
brocs have been known to hobnob amicably on our hot-water
pipes, behind a carefully locked door.

Once the hospital had settled down to a well-ordered

SAUCEPANS AND SOFT DRINKS 167

business, quickening at times to organised hurry, the Diet
Kitchen ran smoothly and cheerily. Busy we certainly
were — during my first ten months at Ris I had but one whole
day off — but it was methodical bustle, and if we never found
time hang heavy on our hands, at least we had time for every-
thing and only worked at top pressure during the first days of
the arrival of a convoy.

At our busiest we always found time to feed any luckless
member of the staff who had missed a meal and came
begging our kindly offices. During the Golden Age, the
Diet Kitchen saw many visitors. Later we became so
efficient and "serious" a hospital (I quote from village
eulogy) that visitors were taboo, and a notice, printed by
Simpson and pasted on the door, announced that there was
" No Admittance except on BUSINESS."

At one period my diet work included such diverse occupa-
tions as making soda-solution for the garage ; boiling up
beeswax for the ward-floors ; and providing that chameleon
American meal known as a light lunch. Its lightness seems
to create its lunchiness. It may be eaten at midnight, but
if of sufficiently unimpeachable lightness is still a lunch, a
peculiarity which is unsettling to the conservative English
(and even Irish) mind. On these occasions the Chef was my
sure stand-by and, with a finger on his lips to intimate a
deadly secrecy, he disgorged unwarranted tins of sardines
in a spirit of most engaging comradeship, and unmurmuringly
14 lent " me eggs to supplement my own mortgaged supply.
Many a cheery supper took place in the ante-room at the end
of a night convoy, when coffee and omelette cheered the
weary souls of the receiving staff. Afterwards, when the
Staff became too big for the Diet Kitchen to cope with, cold
meals were left in readiness in the dining-room and the coffee
kept hot in huge jugs on the big stove, but for a short time
Marie's omelettes and coffee wrote Finis to each convoy
night.

It is terribly difficult to give any adequate account of the
Diet Kitchen and its work and its fun and its tiresomeness.
There were hundreds of things that went to its making-up :
the invasion of ants, when Simpson and Marie and I stalked
about clinging to boxes of boracic powder with intent to kill ;
our struggles with that unwashable kitchen floor, whose
upkeep in eau-de-Javel was unspeakable ; that sliding
hatch opening on the hall, which suggested to every ward
humorist the bright idea of tapping and asking for a first-
class return to Southampton; the nine o'clock tea which

168 V.R. 76

was a source of such dissension that it had to be stopped —
how put them all down on paper?

One was so happy and so busy; there was so much that
was funny in each hurrying day; so much that was sad,
as when Matron brought to us for a meal a little silent
peasant woman come to say good-bye to a dying son or
brother. It was a life woven of such little things that it
became almost impossible to give any idea of its texture
and colour.

The work itself was inevitable repetition. Drinks at 9.30,
dejeuner at midday, more drinks at 2.30, dinner at 5.30,
more drinks at 7 o'clock, including several quarts of tisane
and, in between whiles, odds and ends required for sick men
or " operations," meals for any sick members of the staff,
our endless and necessary cleaning and all the thousand
and one things that crop up in every working day. But
it was a happy life, and I think the Diet Kitchen supplied
a real need during the year and a half of its career. In
the spring of 1917, when the Chef left and his place was
taken by an equipe of cooks, it ceased to exist as a Diet
Kitchen and became what one of the American doctors
irreverently termed " a Soft Drink Bar."

WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS

IN the spring of the year 1915, my friend Mr. H. J. Reckitt
asked me to drive an ambulance for his hospital in France,
to which I gladly assented. Later it devolved upon me to
take charge of the whole of the ambulances and transport
lorries. Three Bianchi chassis had been ordered and the
ambulance bodies were in course of completion, also a Bianchi
lorry.

I had a busy week in London at the end of July arranging
for the shipment to France of the cars and the completion of
the ambulance bodies. These were only just finished in time
to catch the boat at Southampton. We got away at the end
of July with two ambulances and one lorry. Our party
consisted of my brother, Mr. H. B. Grotrian, Christie, Mr.
Reckitt's chauffeur, and myself. Christie stayed behind to
bring over the third ambulance.

In Havre there was considerable delay in landing the cars
and it was late in the afternoon when all were on the quay.
It was necessary to obtain supplies of petrol for our journey
to Paris and it was obvious that we should not be able to
leave the town that night.

We were informed that it was necessary to obtain a permit
from the military authorities in order to stay in Havre,
and my brother went off to obtain this whilst I visited
the British Red Cross for information as to petrol supplies*
This was satisfactorily arranged and I returned to the cars.
Shortly after my brother returned with the information that
the military authorities had referred him to the municipal
authorities, who, in turn, said they could not grant a permit
without the consent of the military. Here was somewhat
of a problem. It was impossible to get away, as petrol was
not available until the next morning, and we could not get a
permit to stay. This was the first of many experiences of
running up against official red tape. I had been talking on
the quay to an English Transport Officer and I looked him
up to see if he would allow us to leave the cars on the
quay, in which case we would sleep in them. However,

169

170 V.R. 76

he was able to give us the name of a hotel which would, he
thought, take us in for one night. After assuring the
proprietor we should be away early the next morning he
consented to give us rooms.

We got away in good time and had a very pleasant run to
Rouen, where we arrived in time to obtain an excellent lunch.

On the way to Paris we were delayed by the breakdown of
the lorry owing to a broken spring. At night, in the pouring
rain, we had some tyre trouble and it was two in the morning
when we arrived at the Grand Hotel in Paris, very tired and
very hungry.

We were in Paris three weeks, before moving on to Ris-
Orangis, where the cars and lorries did useful transport service
in carrying the equipment of the hospital. All descriptions
of supplies were necessary, and Mr. Burdon Muller and I
became, as it were, commis voyageurs for the establishment.
Not the least interesting were our visits to les Invalides for
drugs, blankets, clothing, etc. Here were huge stacks of
clothing, bedding, great stores of chemicals — everything
conceivably necessary for the equipment of many hospitals.

Some time elapsed before our first wounded arrived. A
trainload of some 250 cases arrived at Juvisy Station,
about forty-five of these for us. After these were safely in
hospital we were busy driving wounded to other hospitals.
I had quite an exciting drive following a wild Frenchman,
who had some cases for Arpajon. He was supposed to
know the way, but got hopelessly lost. I was sorry for the
unfortunate wounded (I had ten sitting cases in my ambu-
lance), and very angry with my Frenchman for driving wildly
over the rough country roads. I spluttered very bad language
in very bad French and this was greeted with shouts of
laughter from inside my ambulance. What cheerful, plucky
fellows were these wonderful poilus ! Reaching Arpajon
at 4 a.m. we were another hour before we found the hospital.
Not a word, not a grumble and my little lot marched in as if
they were returning from a picnic. It was a life worth
living to be able to help these men, and to my great regret a
severe illness cut short my time in France.

How the hospital increased in size and how other ambu-
lances were added, I must, perforce, leave to others to relate.
My memories regarding the hospital and its personnel will
always remain happy ones.

WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS 171

II

TOWARDS the end of November 1915, a somewhat ancient
and distinctly tired person arrived late at night in Paris and
was motored out to Ris-Orangis Hospital to take up the duties
of volunteer chauffeur.

The Ambulance Section was then in charge of H. B.
Grotrian and consisted of three Bianchi ambulances, a
Bianchi camion, a Dennis camion and a Wolseley four-
seater. Blesses were conspicuous by their absence and
the work of the Motor Section consisted chiefly in carrying
endless stores of every kind to make V.R. 76, what later it
truly was, the best equipped hospital in France.

The garage, so-called by courtesy, consisted of a field
hospital tent, tied up to trees in the hospital grounds. To
one straight from England it seemed somewhat primitive,
but later experience on the Verdun front and in Mesopotamia
often caused a feeling of regretful longing for even that
humble covering.

During December a small consignment of blesses came to
the local railway station and the hospital began to hum with
excitement. Not less than four- fifths of the staff found a
good reason why his or her presence was necessary at the
station and the stretcher-bearers, under the efficient com-
mand of H. Larcher, assumed an air of conscious superiority.

During December H. B. Grotrian had to give up his com-
mand owing to pressure of other duties and the writer was
honoured by being promoted to the position of Chef des
Ambulances and at once proceeded to take stock of his
domain.

The Bianchi camion, after nobly doing her duty for some
months, had got distinctly bored with constantly bumping
over pave that seemed specially designed and laid for the
benefit of those who suffered from sluggish livers, and had
broken her near stub axle. As it was necessary to send a car
into Paris three times a week to the early market, this threw
extra work on the Dennis. She was a dear old bus and nobly
stood up to her work but, as she was distinctly sedate in her
movements and had neither screen, hood, nor any other pro-
tection for her drivers or passengers, it was no joke starting
off about 5 a.m. on a cold, frosty morning, for the twenty-six
kilometre run into Paris. This duty often fell to Laurent, a
capital fellow and a willing worker, with the usual excitable

172 V.R. 76

French temperament. He returned one morning covered
with snow and his moustache one solid mass of ice. His Chef
met him as that painful operation, returning circulation,
was in progress in his hands and feet. It was a heaven-sent
opportunity to say exactly what he thought of the Dennis,
early morning marketing, the hospital, the war, his Chef and
things in general. His Chef, alas, is also somewhat quick-
tempered and proceeded to give his views in his native tongue.
They continued till they were fairly blown, but as neither
understood a word the other said, no harm was done, and both
felt better, though somewhat thirsty.

As the weather grew colder it was borne in on us that it was
advisable to have the cars under shelter if possible. H. J.
Reckitt, as always, sparing neither trouble nor expense,
fitted up an excellent garage with a stove. The Motor
Section blessed him for that stove, bench, vice and small
forge and anvil and Christie, the chauffeur mechanic, soon
had the satisfaction of having and keeping every car ready
for work.

An unfortunate accident had happened some time before.
The Wolseley, the property of Roland Burdon-Muller and
the joy of his heart, had had a bad skid in Paris and bent and
strained numerous parts of her fore -carriage and steering.
Then, the Dennis distance rod came to utter grief and part
of a Bianchi carburettor went out of action. Even at that
early date spare parts were most difficult to procure and
urgent telegrams were sent to the different makers. Most
polite and kind replies were received, but one and all declared
themselves utterly unable to supply, so that the Motor
Section worked in gloomy silence and Burdon-Muller was
accused of shedding tears over the broken-down " Pram."
As a last hope the Chef des Ambulances was despatched to
England escorting a large and varied collection of worn and
broken parts.

The journey was uneventful until an over zealous Customs
officer at Southampton demanded import duty on these
worn and broken parts. For some moments there was
considerable trouble, but wiser counsel prevailed and the
Chef caught his train. By dint of visiting each particular
works, using such poor eloquence as he possessed and other
methods not unknown to the commercial world, the necessary
parts were secured and packed into or tied on to a 12-16
two-seater Sunbeam which the Chef took out as his staff car,
arriving in due course at Ris. After careful fitting, the spare
parts were found to be of the correct size and shape, the Motor

WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS 173

Section resumed its air of cheerful willingness and Burdon-
Muller once again burst into song whilst having his evening
tub.

In January 1916, Harold Cobb joined with a converted
Panhard chassis and a new ambulance body, but his fittings
would not take French stretchers. He had gone to con-
siderable trouble and expense over fittings and it was hard
luck to find they were useless. The resourceful French
carpenter was consulted and, within ten days that ambulance
was ready for the road.

From January to June 1916 the blesses came to La Chapelle,
the goods station a few hundred yards north of the Gare du
Nord, Paris.

Generally some time in the evening the French Gestionnaire
would receive a telephone message that blesses would arrive
that night — some time ! He carried that information to
H. J. Reckitt, the Medecin-Chef and the Chef des Ambulances.
At first the number to be allotted to Ris was vague, though
later it was given exactly, but the Chef always erred on the
side of an over-supply of ambulances, so always had plenty
of room.

A portion of the docks at La Chapelle had been covered in
and converted into a huge receiving station. Numerous other
ambulance sections, both French and American, were also
called up. Only a few of the ambulances could get inside
the covered-in dock, so it was always a race to get there first,
as there was no telling when the train would arrive — one
might be called for 10 p.m. and the train arrive at 3 or 4 a.m.
Many weary hours did the Motor Section spend in and
around the station with tobacco its only solace and, if
the cars were outside, the " pleasure " of starting one's car
at intervals to keep it from freezing.

Christie drove the Bianchi camion, which was used for
assis only, and his injured air and forcible language when
he did not succeed in annexing a load was more than comic.
Far the worst part was having to drive those poor fellows
over that awful pave. No one could have been more careful
and at times the ambulances only just moved, but it was
impossible to avoid a certain amount of vibration, especially
in the dark, and what it must have been to those poor souls
with broken limbs and shell-racked nerves, is easier to imagine
than to describe.

Owing to the large number of blesses and the opening of
other hospitals it was considered advisable to send a trainload
to a local station. Brunoy was the first one chosen, and the

174 V.R. 76

Ris-Orangis Ambulance Section, with the help of three French
ambulances, was detailed to make the evacuation. This
was effected one beautiful day in June and it is allowable to
presume that it was considered satisfactory, as all further
train evacuations were carried out by the Ris-Orangis
ambulance staff without further help.

Villeneuve St. Georges goods station was then selected as
being more adaptable and more central and was always used
afterwards.

The Motor Section was now given all the ambulance work
of the district, so all the cars had to be kept at concert pitch
and, except for serious accidents, all the repairs were carried
out by the staff.

Five operating hospitals, viz. Ris-Orangis, Brunoy, Boissy,
Juvisy and Villeneuve Triage, had to be kept going, besides
evacuations from them to convalescent hospitals and homes.

The train evacuations were soon got into going order.
The different Medecins-Chefs, under the Chef of Brunoy
No. 89, arranged the number of blesses for each hospital and
handed a list to the Chef des Ambulances. Four ambulances
were backed up to the unloading dock and as each one was
loaded another took its place. The stretchers were all
opened up, a blanket or two in cold weather and a pillow
placed on each and put in piles at intervals on the unloading
dock. As soon as a train was signalled — and oh ! what
weary hours the tired drivers waited for that signal —
Charlie Spiers, on his beloved No. 1 Bianchi, pelted off to
the local town for hot milk, coffee, food and cigarettes for
the blesse's, who as they were unloaded were handed out
with tender care and infinite patience by some of the gentler
members of the Ris-Orangis staff. Then began the painfully
slow writing up of records by the French clerical staff.

The moment four blesses for any one hospital were ready
they were picked up and placed in an ambulance with all
speed, whilst the chauffeur started his engine. The Chef des
Ambulances gave the order and hospital, booked the number
of blesses and time of starting and the ambulance was on its
journey and another backing into place. No fuss, no worry,
no argument. Just the order by the Chef des Ambulances,
repeated by the stretcher-bearers and, on an average of three
and a half minutes, that ambulance had loaded and gone.
With what infinite care those poor fellows with shattered
limbs and pain-worn faces were loaded, wrapped up and made
as comfortable as possible. The staff was efficient and
each man did his best — how good and how efficient was

WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS 175

only realised by their Chef after much experience of ambulance
and transport work on other fronts and in other climes.
Yet these men were not considered good enough for the
British service, though to be sure they were rather a scratch
lot from an M.O's point of view, running down to plucky little
Jerry Peyton-Jones, whose category was nearer C 13 than
C3.

And so the work went on. Frost or snow, rain or shine,
nothing stopped the ambulances. As each chauffeur mounted
the rise at the station entrance, honk, honk, went his horn.
The Chef des Ambulances stood against the railway lines
exactly opposite the sliding door from which that particular
ambulance was to be loaded, using an electric torch by
night, so each chauffeur knew that if he ran right up to the
Chef he would be exactly opposite the right door, and the
trouble of backing into position would be reduced to a
minimum and no time wasted.

Yet what a weary wait it must have been for blesses,
especially those whose nerves were absolutely shattered by
shell-shock and to whom the least movement was hell. And
the strain on the chauffeurs carrying these cases was no slight
one for, however carefully and slowly they drove, there was
bound to be some vibration and their agonised cry of
" Doucement! Oh, mon Dieu, doucement!" nearly drove
the chauffeurs frantic.

It took about an hour or more to go to Ris-Orangis and
back, though the return journey with the chauffeur's foot
jammed down on the accelerator, was very soon rushed.
Sixteen anna speed acted as an antidote to the nerve strain
and very seldom did a chauffeur break down until the last
bUsse was delivered, though after a particularly hard time
the staff was somewhat of a wreck. Jerry Peyton-Jones
looked like a ghost; Harold Cobb's hands trembled like
aspen leaves in a wind ; Laurent was liable to faint ; Roland
Burdon-Muller's game leg gave way at odd moments ; Charlie
Spiers hopped about with one foot and a swinger and Christie
broke forth into language that even a Geordie collier captain
might have envied.

Thanks to never-ceasing attention and good driving the
accidents were astonishingly few, which reflects great credit
on Christy and his fellow- workers. The Chef des Ambulances
loaded up his 16 Sunbeam with tools, spares, jacks, tow-ropes
et autre choses and kept her at the station until the evacuation
was finished, but only twice was her assistance necessary
and then a few moments, in each case, removed the trouble.
Not but that there were accidents. On one occasion,

176 V.R. 76

coming down the hill from Ris-Orangis Hospital, the gear-box
of Harold Cobb's Panhard dropped out, as the cross member
had given way. Luckily it was the last load of that particular
evacuation. There were other mishaps of a more or less
serious nature, still there were always cars ready when
wanted, and never once was an ambulance call refused.

Even war is not all work and very grateful thanks are due
to that dainty little Irish lassie, Miss C. M. Davison, who
always seemed to have hot tea or bovril ready at the critical
moment when a three-parts-frozen chauffeur drew up at the
hospital door, and to Miss Caroline Duer for her ever-cheery
welcome when, in the evening, her sanctum was invaded by
the ambulance staff, eager to help or hinder the never-ceasing
work of bandage rolling, and to talk over present events as
they appeared to each one's point of view.

THE BRAISNE CANTEEN

IN the summer of 1917 a party of us arranged to leave
Paris in the early morning with Mrs. Reckitt, who was canteen
hunting. The point we were making for was Braisne, a village
used by the French army as a depot de repos, at that time
about six miles from the German lines behind the Chemin
des Dames. We motored by Meaux and Chateau-Thierry
through Fer-en-Tardenois, and from there across a high
plateau until we suddenly looked down into the valley of
the Vesle, where nestled the town of Braisne.

With a confidence which was soon to be shattered, we
asked for the inn, in the hopes of omelette and bread, but
found the ancient hostelry, battered and only half roofed,
in the occupation of the poilus. Happily we had provided
ourselves with sandwiches and our motor driver was given
boite de singe and some bread at the railway station.

Those who have never seen a village which has been
fought over, lost and re-taken, from which nearly the whole
of the civil population has fled-, in which hardly a house has
escaped some injury and in which thousands of soldiers are
billeted and through which, day and night, moves a constant
stream of vehicles of every description, from farm carts with
a mule and a donkey to a Paris omnibus and camions of
the latest American pattern, can hardly appreciate the scene.
Looking at the walls on either side of the road one could
appreciate what would happen to a foot-passenger on a wet
day, with mud splashing three and four feet high. To cross
the traffic was a matter of difficulty and ingenuity.

Walking round the town one saw men, just down from the
front-line trenches, painfully writing letters on their knees,
with nowhere to go, no amusements, no recreations, no place
in which they could pass the hours in converse with their
friends, or amuse themselves.

Mrs. Reckitt at once felt that this was indeed a place
for her labours. Having found the Commandant of the town,
we were taken to a building which it was suggested could be
used as a canteen. The front part facing the main street
had been a bakery and confectioner's shop before the war,
N 177

178 V.R. 76

with a large hall in the rear often used for wedding banquets
and occasional theatrical entertainments. Dirty, dilapidated
and damaged, it looked far from prepossessing, but the
Commandant undertook to have it cleaned, the large hall
repainted, electric light installed, water laid on and benches
and tables made.

On our return journey to Paris from Braisne, we went by
Soissons, through the forest of Villers-Cotterets to Senlis
and dined at the hotel from the porch of which the German
officers in 1914 watched the houses on the other side of the
street being burnt one by one, as a punishment to the people of
the town for having fired on the German soldiers as they
entered the place. The wall is still shown, pitted with bullets,
against which were placed the mayor, the priest and three
other notables of Senlis, who were summarily shot as a
lesson in frightfulness to other French towns that might be
occupied.

We, at the hospital, were kept constantly in touch with the
Braisne canteen workers. Miss Niven and Miss Porter spent
their holidays in helping Mrs. Reckitt and, after May 29th,
1918, when the Germans again overran Braisne and advanced
as far as Chateau -Thierry, two of the canteen staff, Miss Lesher
and Miss Conner, came to work at Ris until another canteen
could be established.

In 1917, after the Christmas festivities at the hospital,
I again went to Braisne to take part in the New Year fetes
for the French soldiers at the canteen.

It was bitterly cold weather with deep snow and a hard
frost ; coal or coke was excessively difficult to get, and wood,
if procurable, invariably green.

We began our festivities on the 30th of December and
they lasted for four days. The big hall was decorated with
flags and greenery, and on the platform stood a real Christmas
tree, including candles.

The men had to be marshalled and admitted by batches,
each having to produce a ticket which had been issued to him
by his non-commissioned officer. They were provided with
hot coffee and a cigarette and then passed in front of the
Christmas tree, where the ladies of the canteen knelt before
large red boxes that contained the gifts. There were shaving-
brushes, shaving soap, pocket mirrors, photo cases, jack-
knives and handkerchiefs — a gift for each. As they passed
by, one of the regimental bands, kindly lent by the Colonel,
played in the gallery and they danced, some uproariously,
some sedately; some had a coloured soldier — an Arab or a

THE BRAISNE CANTEEN 179

Senegalese — for a partner, and they all made merry. One
of the officers told me that it was the first time he had seen
the men dance since 1914 and he was profoundly glad to
think they had the chance to do it.

Four hundred men filled the hall and then it was necessary
to ask them to depart, as their comrades were waiting to take
their places. With reluctance they went out into the cold
night and invariably one found a few hiding behind a curtain
or even under the stage.

Many of the poilus would make a second appearance and
would attempt innocently to pass again, having perhaps failed
to get the particular gifts they wanted. Whether we were
successful in detecting them all, I much doubt, but as each
night was given to a particular regiment, a man with a
different number in his cap was easily identified and had to
give some explanation as to why he had not been there the
night before. Even those who were detected by their officers
or myself in trying to pass twice would merely laugh and
say " Attrapl" As the best of good nature prevailed it was
difficult indeed to be cross with them. Three times each
night we filled the hall, our New Year guests numbering over
five thousand.

The last night we had the men of the 104th Artillery, who
had been nine months at the front, with only a few days' rest,
and came into Braisne on January 2nd, 1918. One of their
officers asked whether they were going to share in the fete, as
they had not been to the canteen before the festivities started.
Needless to say we felt that these men, above all others,
deserved to have a night to themselves with all the warmth of
greeting and bright lights we could give them.

I remember on this occasion making rather a bad faux
pas. I twice pressed a man who was standing near the
barrier, whom I mistook for a non-commissioned officer,
to take his turn and get a gift. I found afterwards that,
for a bet, he had put on his full-dress uniform and therefore
looked entirely unlike the other officers who were assisting
us in keeping order.

One night a certain soldier, who cobbled the boots for one
of the regiments and had been twice excluded from the
canteen because of his too great love for red wine, maliciously
cut the electric light wire and plunged us all in darkness. A
young non-commissioned officer, who had played a great part
in assisting the ladies in the preparations and who had come
down from the front each night to give a hand, speedily
rectified matters and was paid a high compliment by one of

180 V.R. 76

the ladies, who declared that he could not have been more
adaptable and quick if he had been an American.

I did not visit Braisne again till after the Armistice, towards
the end of November, 1918, when driving over through Soissons
from Juilly, we passed over the battlefields of Villers-
Cotterets and Soissons, still in the condition in which they
had been left after the fighting : grey tanks looming up like
great rocks, the brown earth pitted with shell-holes almost
touching and overlapping each other and all the debris of
shell-carriers and ammunition boxes littering the roadside
and, in twos and threes or even groups of ten or a dozen, the
black crosses that marked the graves of the fallen.

Soissons I had known in 1917, and parts of it were then
still almost intact, but now, after the fighting of August and
September 1918, the town looked like a Pompeii, there being
only a mass of debris and fallen roofs above the first floors.
Notices were posted everywhere that on no account were
you to enter any of the buildings or open a door, as the town
had not yet been cleared up and there might still be booby-
traps.

We walked down to the cathedral, which was now almost
a complete ruin and I remember, in the square in front of the
west door, there were one or two holes surrounded by barbed
wire, marking the place of unexploded shells.

From there we drove to Braisne and, about five miles before
coming to the latter place, passed what had been the military
hospital at Vasseny, torn and reft in every direction by
German aeroplanes, which must have known well what they
were attacking as, to my own knowledge, the hospital was
not within two kilometres of either a munition dump or a
railway station.

Braisne itself was more knocked about than ever. The
house in which Mrs. Reckitt had lived had been hit twice,
half the front and kitchen at the back had gone and I failed
to find a single piece of furniture in the house which I had
known there in 1917. In the garden I did find a carved
panel which had formed part of the sideboard.

The canteen itself had had three shells through it. The
rest-room of the ladies had disappeared and beyond a
damaged marmite and the cover of a box of Woodbine
cigarettes, which I found in a cupboard, there was nothing
to show that the building had been used for a canteen.

Out of the valley, up the steep hill to the south, to the
plateau that gently falls to Fer-en-Tardenois, we journeyed
in the fading light of an early winter afternoon, through a

THE BRAISNE CANTEEN 181

desolation and a waste, where hundreds of torn and dis-
connected telephone wires dangled in the air from their
supporting posts.

Then we came upon one of the most solitary figures I
have ever seen, an old man with an old white horse, miles
from everywhere, starting to plough his field again. I think
nothing can give a better idea of the spirit which carried
France through the four years of war and will again build
up that region of the north, war-swept and destroyed, than
that lonely figure silhouetted against the sky-line on a
winter's evening.

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE

ONE of the things that brings the war closest is the mending
of the men's slashed, bullet-torn, blood-stiffened uniforms;
the sleeves often cut away or the trouser-legs slit up for the
first dressings. Sometimes the whole capote is riddled with
small holes. The men do not always want the holes mended.
They are rather proud of them and like to keep them — as they
do the eclats removed from their own bodies — for exhibi-
tion at home. To show a hole in your coat, and a scar
in yourself, and the bullet, or whatever it was that made
them, is almost as much enjoyed as showing the Croix de
Guerre or the Medaille Militaire pinned on your breast.

They are innocently proud of all trophies, received or given.
I asked a man, one of our first wounded, on whose coat I
happened to be sewing a button, whether I might keep the
button if I found him another one ? He was the first man I
had seen with both medals, and I knew he had won them for
defending the corner of a trench single-handed against five
or six Germans, most of whom he had accounted for or
captured before his companions came up. He showed all his
teeth in a delightful grin, and then took an enormous knife
out of his pocket and proceeded to cut off every button from
the coat in spite of my protestations. He said I might like
to give them to my family at home. There were sixteen
buttons, I think, big and little, and I had to rip sixteen others
off a derelict uniform and sew them on his in place of those
he had given me. But I was exceedingly grateful all the
same. He also gave me a German water-bottle from the
battlefield of Champagne. It had belonged to a fallen enemy
who needed help, but who tried to shoot the Frenchman
when he came to give it. Fortunately, my friend said, he
shot first, and brought away the water-bottle in remembrance.

One hears these stories so often. I sometimes wonder if
the more ignorant Germans have not been told (perhaps to
induce them to behave in just this way) that every English
or Frenchman coming near them under such circumstances
came to kill ? The soldier of the two medals would not hear
of any such explanation. To him they were, every one of
them, fiends.

182

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE 183

He was one of the few professional and natural born fighters
I have seen. All the men know they must fight, and they
are all determined to defend their country to the last gasp.
They will suffer, and they do suffer, to any extent. They
are brilliant, brave, sturdy, faithful, fierce, cheerful, philo-
sophic. They bring tears to your eyes with their perfectly
matter-of-course endurance of pain and mutilation. But
going back to the front after the first hot-blooded enthusiasm
is over — after they have been in hospital once or twice — is
just a dogged duty to most of them. They may be merry
about it. They often are.

" I, mademoiselle, I content myself anywhere. Here,
at my depot. In the trenches bombing the Boches. I am
always gay."

Or they may be serious.

" Not nice, mademoiselle. It is not nice at all down there.
But what would you have ? It is war. It is not over yet. We
must push them out of France. It will be long to finish."

They regard the war, their injuries, the horrible carnage
and the ultimate victory as inevitable. But fighting is not
fun. It is a patriotic obligation to them.

To that particular man, and one or two others only of all
I have seen, it was a burning, raging joy. Not merely at the
moment of attack, when I can understand a tide of hot
exaltation firing any man's blood, but at all times. He would
have sacrificed limb after limb, as long as he had them to
sacrifice, for another shot at the Boches. I hope he is still
shooting.

That blind rage of battle must be a marvellous thing. The
incident of Debout, les morts, which went through France
entire, and must be known over here, is a case in point. If
anyone should not have heard it, I will tell it very briefly.
A sergeant, at the end of a trench which the Germans were
attacking, turned, after the explosion of a shell, to find all the
men about him struck and most of them desperately wounded.
The enemy's infantry were running up to take possession, and
he cast his eyes back at the fallen bodies and in a perfect fury
roared out, " On your feet, you dead ! " and the poor, half-
killed creatures did stagger to their feet and the trench was
held.

The dramatic force of the thing grips you, but there is
rather an odd little matter-of-fact explanation which is not
without its charm. It seems that Debout, les morts, is the
caserne call to the lazy of a morning, and so might have come
naturally to the lips of the sergeant. None the less the story

184 V.R. 76

is a fine story and the words have become famous throughout
the country.

This, however, I only know from others. The next fighter
I knew myself was a man who came in with a severe eye
injury; so severe, indeed, that it was impossible to save
the eye. He said, and he meant it, that he would gladly
risk the other if he could go back and kill a few more
Germans. Another, just coming out of ether after an opera-
tion, called out gaily: " Ah, voild les Bodies! Vite, mon
capitaine, les grenades ! " And a wild French boy (from
Morocco, I think), with flashing eyes and no front teeth to
speak of, told me how he loved a bayonet charge, and,
better still, war with the knife, which the Germans hated
and which was what, in his opinion, they deserved. He
was primitive in his feelings and described with unction
how he had pulled the rings off the fingers of a big Boche,
who held up both his hands in token of surrender, and
had stabbed the Boche after. He had taken the rings first,
because he did not like to rob a corpse.

I suggested that an enemy who surrendered was entitled to
quarter, but he assured me that if any of them were — which,
on account of their conduct in firing upon the Red Cross
and shooting people who tried to help their wounded, he very
much doubted — this particular one was not, and he was glad
he had taken his rings and stabbed him, and he hoped to stab
more. He had a private grudge against a man at home who
had persuaded his lady-love to throw him over and get
married in his absence, and he was anxiously waiting for his
permission which he meant to use in going back and
putting an end to both of them. He was very sombre and
sulky the day he got the letter from his mother which told
him this news, and his companions naturally tormented him.
But I have an idea that the joy of getting well enough to
return to the front and kill many Germans would probably
put out of his head the desire to go home and kill one
Frenchman.

He cried the day he left us and declared he would not go
to another hospital, would not get up, would not dress, and
defied the Medecin-Chef himself to move him. But he did
go, eventually, and I saw him later, a little tamed by the
Reverend Mother of the convalescent home, though still a
belligerent to the backbone.

In contrast to him was a man from Marseilles, with mild
blue eyes and eyebrows so arched that they gave him an
expression of everlasting innocent surprise, He looked too

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE 185

meek to have hurt a fly. Yet he gave me an account of a
charge during which he had found himself in the very act
of bayoneting a German boy who had his hands up. He
could not stop quickly enough. You could not stop once
you got started. You got carried away. Fortunately; for
otherwise you could not do what you had to do. To be sure
they gave you a little rum to warm you, and that helped
perhaps to excite you. But then you were excited anyhow.
You knew nothing but that you must advance.

This is the kind of man, with nothing really bellicose in
his blood, who makes an excellent, reliable, valiant soldier,
and yet suffers quietly and most pathetically from the memory
of his own prowess.

Valiant, too, are many of the stretcher-bearers, though
the men are often prejudiced against them as a class (or so
one of their corporals told me), and call them by the detested
name of embusque. This corporal of stretcher-bearers was
from the south, near the Spanish border. He had a voice of
melting softness and an eye and smile to match. He had
been injured in the foot by a shell explosion, which had killed
his helpers and the wounded man they were carrying. He
had seen another shell strike near another stretcher and
the priest, who happened to be accompanying it, have his
right arm torn off and give the blessing with his left hand
to the dying man beside him.

He told me his own story. From the trenches, after a
battle, he heard wounded on the field calling and started to
go after them. This is forbidden on account of drawing the
enemy's fire. The Germans often begin shelling again the
moment they find search-parties are going out. However, it
was dusk; the men were quite near; he could hear them
crying, so he resolved to go. Several voices called him back,
but he paid no attention. Just as he was jumping out he
heard the Colonel say : " I'll give you eight days in prison
for this." But by that time he did not care what happened
if he got to his wounded. This he managed to do and, with
some difficulty, brought the worst ones in, parting almost
entirely with his own trousers against the barbed wire in
the process. Just as he had finished his labours he was
met by his Captain, who told him he must report at once
to the Colonel. He respectfully suggested that, in his present
condition, he could not go. The Captain, unconvinced, said
he must. So he told me how he arrived before the Colonel
holding a tattered coat about an almost bare pair of legs and
said, saluting:

186 V.R. 76

" I beg pardon, my Colonel, for appearing to you without
trousers. I have come for my eight days of prison."

To which his Colonel replied :

" Great imbecile, I have sent for you to promote you."

And that was how he was made corporal.

" And I find, mademoiselle," he said gently, " that there
is room for devotion in that service more than in any other.
And if one is really devoted the soldiers come to know it in
time. But one must also be firm. I am obliged sometimes
to forbid my wounded to cry out. I tell them I will leave them
to the last if they scream. It is hard ; but otherwise it is too
dangerous, for there are often snipers about."

Which shows how you may impress upon others a discipline
you have little stomach for yourself.

Of course there were some professional soldiers among our
men, but I saw comparatively few. For the most part their
ordinary occupations were pathetically at variance with war.
They were vine-growers, gardeners, farmers, architects,
painters, musicians, sellers of musical instruments, glove-
makers — pursuers of gentle trades that it seemed impossible
to associate with the crash and roar of guns. Perhaps it
might be that the farmer had lost his foot, and the painter
his eyes, and the musician his right arm, and they would be,
now and again, rather wistfully anxious to know what was
likely to become of them after the war. But not so anxious,
altogether, as any one of them would have been, so maimed,
before the world about him broke up into fire and smoke,
grief, pain and general pandemonium.

Some men have fought through two years of these horrors
and been hit for the first time. Some have had two or three
wounds, more or less severe, in as many months. One had
been in the trenches only nine days and had come back
with injuries that necessitated the loss of his left leg and part
of his right foot. Another — a most ridiculous, wrinkled,
merry-looking little man he was — had escaped scot-free till
one night when he was set to digging somewhere and a shell
had exploded directly in front of him and blown his spade
into the air, whence it descended upon his head, cutting it
frightfully.

There was a white-faced young miner, about twenty-two,
but appearing much less, who had never got to the front at all.
In the barracks he had developed what he called a white swell-
ing (really a tuberculous knee) and he had been sent from place
to place till finally he reached us. First they operated, trying
to save the leg, and took out the knee-joint, but the trouble

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE 187

was too deep-seated and they had subsequently to ampu-
tate. He suffered awfully and had frequent haemorrhages.
The only thing that consoled him in the least was that he
had a special nurse, which made him of great importance, and
when she was removed as he got better, was allowed a special
bell. This he rang continually and everybody dropped what-
ever was being done to run and see if Fritz (his name was
Charles, but he looked like a German baby-doll and was called
Fritz in consequence) was bleeding to death. He loved
having the whole hospital in a state of excitement about him
and gave so many false alarms that the bell had finally to be
taken away.

We hated to see him go, as he had to later, spoilt and cross
as he sometimes was. I remember him, lying dressed in his
red and blue soldier clothes on the bed, all ready for depar-
ture, looking — with his poor, shabby little trouser-leg pinned
up out of the way — like a child's broken toy. I think he had
an aunt who promised to look after him, as his people were
in the invaded country, and I'm afraid he wasn't going to be
spoilt after he left us.

No matter where and how they have been wounded,
almost all the blesses are wonderfully patient, light-hearted
and philosophical. Even the few who scream during dress-
ings (and who can blame them, nervous, tortured and terrified
from the memories of previous rough handling in the hurry
of field service ?),even those are ready to smile and joke again
as soon as the doctors have passed on. You cannot quench
their spirit for long. I have seen three men with amputated
legs — up patients, these — make themselves into the semblance
of a band, one using his crutches as a violin, one as a violin-
cello, and the other holding his up in the air as a trumpet.
They used to make as much fuss over what tune they would
play as if it were a real tune ; and, indeed, their imitation
was so good you could hardly tell it was not. They were so
noisy that they generally went outside to give their perform-
ance, and so clever that they always collected an audience
who encouraged them to continue it.

This strange, detached, whimsical indifference of most of
them to even their own misfortunes the moment the worst
is over, seems part of the universal acceptance of desperate
tragedy as the normal condition of life. As far as my own
experience goes, I have found among the wounded a marvel-
lous power of reacting from the violent and terrible episodes
in which they have taken part. So they have grown
accustomed, recklessly accustomed, till ordinary things have

188 V.R. 76

become the exception and horrors the rule. This explains
why a man in the trenches who knows that the least exposure
of himself may mean death, will jump out and run to pick
up a hare he has shot and why, when he is sniped, another
will take the same risk and perhaps be lucky enough to bring
in the hare among the applause of his comrades. The danger
of sudden annihilation has ceased to excite and a hare for
supper is an event.

Also, when all hell has broken loose about you, one dare-
devil action more or less matters little. You might be blown
up sitting piously in your dug-out with a Bible in one hand
and a hymn-book in the other, if the enemy got the range.

Going for rations, generally called la soupe, seems a
ticklish sort of business. A poor Norman with a shattered
elbow told me that his accident had happened when he and
several others were starting off after their food and water.
The man next to him had been blown instantly to pieces.
He had seen his head and limbs tossed into the air. And
most of the others had been killed by the same explosion.

" All fathers of families, mademoiselle."

He was rather simple, poor D., whether naturally or by
reason of this experience, I do not know. The men in the
ward used to tease him and frighten him about the treatment
his elbow would receive at the next hospital if he did not try
to move his stiff arm a little according to the doctor's direc-
tions, and he would come flying down to me to insist that he
did his best, and if he were sent to another hospital would I
write something to tell them not to put his arm in the electric
machine, because he knew it would break off entirely if they
did. The conversation usually ended by his insisting upon
exhibiting his wounds — he had one on the shoulder also —
and my having to help him off with half his shirt and hold up
his trousers at the same time (since he wore neither belt nor
braces and the hospital clothes were very large for him)
while I looked at his scars and assured him that he wasn't
nearly well enough to go yet and would never be ordered such
treatment when he did. Not that I knew much about it, but
when one is reassuring one had better reassure.

He drank rather more of the hospital red wine than was
good for him or his arm and we finally sent for his wife from
Rouen to comfort and control him. She arrived, bringing
her sister-in-law, at which we were a little put out at first;
but, finding the poor soul was timid about coming alone, and
had travelled for next to nothing, eating hardly a bite on the
way, we were ashamed of having felt aggrieved.

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE 189

It is very hard on the men being sent like packages from
hospital to hospital. In the beginning we kept ours a long
time, but later were obliged to evacuate those who could be
evacuated as quickly as possible, to make room for more.
It has to be so at the operating centres.

One man, at the station where we went to fetch our
wounded from the ambulance train, asked me whether " one
can stay a few days at this hospital ? " He had been moved
so rapidly from one to another that the letters from his family
had never been able to catch him up.

It is rather horrible to see the unloading of those ambulance
trains ; even now, when conditions are so much better. The
rows upon rows of stretchers with bandaged bundles of men
on them, and the doctors moving about, selecting and ticket-
ing. * This one for your hospital ; that one for mine." And
the stretcher-men reading the tickets and segregating the
groups; so many under the Ris sign; so many under the
signs of the other hospitals.

Some of the men have patient, tired faces. Others look
fixed and half -wild. Others are smiling. All of them are so
courteous.

4 Will you have coffee or lemonade ? "

4 What you please, mademoiselle."

4 But we have both here."

" Then a little coffee, if you are so amiable."

"A cigarette?"

4 * If it does not give you too much trouble."

And to see them hugging the untidy packages which con-
tain the small things they most value ! Everything is tucked
in beside them : their overcoats, and perhaps a trench boot
belonging to a wounded leg, or a cap that will not fit a
bandaged head. Stretchers and stretchers ! Out of the semi-
darkness of the long train into the hard glare of the electric-
lighted shed they are carried, one after the other, and set
down in rows. So many legless, armless ; such an amount of
misery !

What is to become of this human waste ? In all the coun-
tries at war, what is to become of it ?

The morale of the men is superb. This is how they take
things.

I was at the rooms of the American Fund for French
Wounded not long ago, and a lady came in, bringing with her,
by way of giving him an outing, a patient from the Val de
Grace. He was, at the moment, blind in both eyes and had
lost his right hand. The stump was bandaged, so was one

190 V.R. 76

of his eyes; the other was left uncovered. He was to be
given some clothes, and while she went to select them I asked
him frankly — for they don't mind telling — whether he was
not going to recover a little the sight of the free eye.

He said : " They do not say yet, Mademoiselle. But I hope
so. If one could tell light from darkness one could do so
many things."

It makes one choke to write the words down. So many
things ! Dear God !

But people are all enthusiastic now to help the maimed,
the halt and the blind. If it only lasts, perhaps they will
not go uncomforted.

There is a pretty story I heard which shows the sentiment
of the little girls of Paris for the wounded. A man, horribly
disfigured in the face, was standing on one of the Islands of
Safety somewhere, waiting for his chance to cross a wide
street. Three little errand-girls had also sought refuge there.
They entered into conversation with him and, when the traffic
thinned out and allowed them to pass on their several ways,
each one of them stood on tiptoe and kissed the man before
she bade him good-bye.

So much more is there to tell than can be told. So much
heroism, devotion, pathos, sympathy, pity, that no pen can
do it justice.

I think I may say, in spite of all I have heard and read,
I found the men of France, at least (and I am sure it is true
of the men of England as well), less bloodthirsty later on in
the war, than they were at first. The early German outrages,
their treatment of women and children, hostages and
prisoners ; the firing upon stretchers and Red Cross stations ;
the treacherous attacks upon those who turned at call to help
the wounded, heated French fury to boiling-point. Nothing
they could do seemed too much in revenge. Lately, whether
the barbarism has been less marked, or the revenge more
complete, or (as I hope) the general sympathy of bold men for
bold men more to be reckoned with, one cannot say, but it
appears to me that the denunciations grew less violent.

I read a speech of Lloyd George the other day in which he
said, approximately, that war must go on till the world was
so tamed that no man, that no group of men, should ever be
in a position to break the peace again.

I ask myself, and anyone who will listen, how that may be ?
For as long as one man has it in his power to dominate, so long
will he be able to lead others, rightly or wrongly. As long as
groups of men can show that power, so long will other groups

ENFANTS DE LA PATRIE 191

follow them. War can never vanish off the earth while there
are ambitions and enthusiasms, righters of wrongs with wrongs
to right, defenders of honour at all hazards. And the fighting
spirit is not to be deprecated. It is always willing to risk
something — its ease, its safety, its life even. Lesser thoughts,
feelings and considerations are burnt away when a man
faces death daily.

I have seen some of the horrible effects of war, and yet I
should say that to the people engaged in it — those particu-
larly upon whom it was forced — the result was purifying.
They are exalted — highly, in spite of their losses. They
have one great purpose, and, until that purpose is accom-
plished, they burn with a fine fire.

And those who are privileged to watch them and work with
them cannot honour them enough.

MARKETING

IN London there are separate markets for fish, meat,
fruit and vegetables, whilst the principal market in Paris,
les Halles, consists of a large number of buildings, known as
pavilions, spread over several acres, where all kinds of eatables
are on sale, wholesale, half -whole sale and retail. The streets
between each of them are let to the suburban market gardeners,
small dealers and the sellers on commission, who sell anything
from day to day, acting on behalf of the large commission
agents when the arrivals are too much for them to dispose of
singly. All these various people pay a daily rental to the
Municipality according to the space and accommodation
occupied.

The street dealers have to finish selling and clear the streets
of their goods by eight o'clock in summer and nine o'clock in
winter, after which time all sales are illegal and the goods
may be confiscated in case of offence. This restriction has a
very important bearing on marketing.

It is advisable to get to the market as early as possible, so
as to have time to walk round and inspect the quantity
and quality of goods on offer before actually beginning to
purchase, as, if there is a glut on the market, it is more
advantageous to wait and buy just before the close of business,
when dealers will lower prices in order to dispose of perishable
stock. On the other hand, if supplies are short, buying must
be begun immediately, to avoid a rise which is certain to take
place, or all supplies may be sold and you will have to return
almost empty-handed.

There is a vast difference between marketing in France,
especially on such a large scale as is necessary for a hospital
and the same thing in England, where arrangements can be
made to secure almost the whole of the supplies from one
merchant. It is necessary, where economy is the main
principle, to know whom to buy from, and to understand
the methods of distribution and selling, with so many agents
between the producer and the public. It is only by actual
experience in the market that the buyer is able to learn
with whom he can do business to obtain the best results,

192

MARKETING 193

and even then he must distinguish between the really con-
scientious dealers who wish to keep their customers and whose
articles can be relied on and those — unfortunately very
numerous — who, in dealing with perishable goods, especially
fruit, wilfully mislead one as to the quality and size. In view
of the large quantities and limited time at one's disposal,
the buyer must rely to a limited extent on the agent's descrip-
tion, whilst calculating the necessary allowance for waste.

No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down for guidance, the
buyer must depend on his judgment and ability to take
advantage of the prevailing conditions. To begin with the
idea that he must buy everything ordered on his list of goods
required, will lead to extravagance. He must be prepared
to substitute any vegetable or fruit for another, with a cor-
responding change in the menus, which will often provoke the
wrath of the Chef or Matron.

Stocks of tinned or dried provisions must be kept in reserve
for emergencies. These arise more often in the winter,
if there has been a succession of sharp frosts or a heavy fall
of snow which prevent the market-gardeners working on their
allotments or bringing their produce to market, and also
disorganises the railway service on which Paris depends to
a great extent for its supplies from the distant centres of
production.

To a stranger the most extraordinary custom is the habit
of bargaining. Much depends on the patience and persuasive
force of the buyer, who must argue from five to fifteen minutes,
according to circumstances, until the happy medium between
the seller's price and the buyer's offer is reached, when the
transaction is completed. In some cases it is very amusing
to listen to the repartee of the respective parties, who often
engage in a heated argument for the sake of gaining that
extra penny or two, which is so dear to the average Frenchman.
When numerous transactions take place all these small sums
make an appreciable difference in the result.

In the summer time the ride to Paris on a motor lorry,
through miles of open country in the early morning, often
before sunrise, was very refreshing. In the winter, when the
thermometer has been as low as 25° of frost, with a biting
wind blowing the snow directly in one's face, the discomfort
of the journey was great. On arriving at the market, there
was three or four hours of walking in the melting snow, mixed
with all kinds of refuse, before the return journey, under
similar conditions.

On the whole the amusing incidents under these conditions

194 V.R. 76

outweighed the discomforts. It was no unusual sight to see
a little fat man, laden with a heavy sack, suddenly fall full
length in the snow and, on rising, turn and vehemently
expostulate, as only a Parisian can, with the passer-by who
jostled him.

In marketing one comes in contact with all kinds of person-
alities, from the itinerant cauliflower-seller to the millionaire
salesman. Each has his peculiarities which must be studied.
Some, before doing business, must adjourn to the nearest cafe
in order to discuss things. Another will relate his domestic
troubles, which must be listened to with sympathetic interest,
whilst others retail the latest story or scandal before attempt-
ing to inquire what you wish to buy. As a general rule, the
French are very amiable and are easy to manage, if you
interest yourself in their daily life.

I cannot conclude without a word of thanks to Bellivier,
whose advice, assistance, personal knowledge of the market
and general good humour were invaluable, whilst Christie
and Spiers were always most cheerful and obliging under the
most adverse circumstances. Spiers was always a trifle
nervous when driving in market in case of infringing the traffic
regulations, but Christie was always ready to drive anywhere
as long as he achieved his object. The following incident
particularly illustrates his character.

One morning on arriving we found the space reserved for
waiting vehicles entirely filled. Christie quite unconcernedly
stopped the car immediately in front of a watercress-dealer's
space, whilst I went off to inspect the vegetables on offer.
Half-an-hour later Christie came to find me and said with
great glee, " Don't come back for a time, there is a policeman
wants to see you to take my name and address for stopping
there. When he asked me to move on I pretended I could
not understand French." When I ultimately returned there
was a very angry watercress-dealer and an infuriated police-
man waving and gesticulating, as the car prevented the
approach of customers. After threatening me with all sorts
of penalties, which took a considerable time to explain, as
they both talked at once, I managed to smooth matters over,
whilst apologising for Christie's ignorance and, with a drink
and a cigarette, the matter ended. All this time Christie
was standing by with an amused smile and an innocent look
on his face. We got our marketing finished without having
to move the car.

"THE HOWL"

IN four successive issues of an illustrated paper called
The Howl and started, I believe, in November 1916, the
Night Orderlies of the hospital indulged in a flow of spirits,
both high and low. It was edited by Charles Levitt, and
probably its short lease of life may be attributed to the
fact that it was a manuscript affair and the labour involved
in preparing it was excessive. It was run on lines for the
most part humorous, always racy and not infrequently
libellous.

The Editor contributed a Magnum Opus, which remains
a fragment. It may be given in facsimile.

" THE HOSPITAL IN MAKING
CHAPTER I

" IT was on the twenty-eight of July nineteen hundred
and fifteen A bright and glorious morning at A quarter to
ten when we steamed out from victoria station London on
our Journey to france via Folkstone and Dieppe our party
consisted of nine men Orderlys made up of various classes
including some who thought themselves class stuff but out
to have been spelt Glass stuffed and others really jolly good
fellows it is not necessary to give the names of these men
suffice to say that some had met previously at ambulance
meetings and some had not but with the old English fashion
of A nod of the head and A shake of the hand and you have
been chums for quite A long time, We were accompanied by
several Doctors and Nurses who were really good sorts quite
Jolly and chattie and no starch used well we arrived at
Folkstone where we were some considerable time getting
through to the boat but after plenty of patience and water
spray we managed to accomplish the feat the boat running

195

196 V.R. 76

at the time was the Arundel not over large and certainly
not very comfortable as there were only two distinctions of
passengers there was A goodly crowd of us aft including
men women and children and A fair amount of upper deck
cargo and the boats being turned in made the deck space
still worse there was very feew seats at all on board and
what there were was taken up by the women and children
who were first comers and even these could not stop were
they were for the sea was A bit choppy and our boat was
rather rockey so we shipped A goodly shower of water ever
now and again so you could not stay long in any one place
without getting wet and without being sea sick the poor
little children it was pitiful to see and the grown up folks
were bad I myself and A chum picked up soundings with
several others on top of A wash deck locker and there was
forced to stay being afraid to move or we should have been
as bad as the rest, one or two soldiers returning off leave
did their best to help both ways in feeding the fish and then
running around trying to cheer up the women and children
until the next turn came on the sun was nice and bright but
the wind very keen and after nearly six hours Journey we
arrived at Dieppe wet cold and hungry and so we had to
remain we were about an hour getting through the customs
and then we managed to get A drink A bottle of wine costing
us three Francs from there we went aboard the train for
Paris and after what seemed an endless time of waiting we
actually got away just as the darkness came on so we did
our Journey looking at nothing and amusing ourselves as
best we could having A carriage to ourselves no one was more
entitled I think some of us slept A bit after getting into
the warm carriage from the cold boat ; well we were to dine
on board the train so our senior Doctor brought us our
tickets which were supposed to entitle us to A dinner but
what A feed we were kept till the last we were well under
way for Paris when they told us we could go along and we
did double quick you may bet a fr we had had nothing to
eat since early morning when we had had a good fill but I
am afraid it was not all eatables as beer and etc. are not
so plentiful in france well the dinner dont make us laugh
perhaps some of you have dined on A train before well I had
not and dont think I want to again if it is to be the same
as that meal was the tables were set for four at each so we
took our places there were still A few gentlemen left in the
dining car smoking and drinking when we entered and sit
down but we were not out to eat them so they did not count

'THE HOWL" 197

well along comes boots or buttons or something between the
two mixtures and planks A bottle of beer and four glasses on
the table and says finish before we had started and then
came the capping part of the feed another addition of boots
and buttons came along balancing A tray on which were some
chunks of something which has remained A mistery until
this day they were sandwiches or what represented such but
anything from A brick to A door step would have been A
better name for them but we were hungry thirsty and tired
so we drank the beer and ate what we could of the sandwich
and longed for Paris which we eventually reached in the early
hours of the morning weary worn and tired but yet we were
not finished fr all the luggage had to be found which had been
registered when leaving London in the morning and which
consisted of 57 bags and boxes of various size and descriptions
but as they were all of A number it was not bad next item
was to finds cabs which at that time of day were not so very
plentiful for those not gone home were busily engaged so
having one good french speaking Orderley with us we managed
to secure about A dozen in to which nurses and baggage
were sent off to the grand Hotel and dumped down and
then returned fr more so that by two o'clock we were at
our destination fr that day and still being thirsty we tried to
get A drink but all we could weed out of the Porter was A
bottle of Vichey water fr which we paid 2 Franks and then
made our way to bed and to sleep which we were very glad
to get.

(To be continued.)

CHAPTER II

" WELL having managed to drink our bottle of Vichey water
at two france and had A good laugh over the same thinking
if we would have done the same at home and gessing we
would sooner have had some of the same as we had had
the night before at Victoria we found our way to bed and to
sleep or those of us who could for by the time we were in
bed Paris began to wake or its taxi cabs did and they did
not forget to let you know it with their sweet toned hooters
sounding like some elephant trumpeting about so at about
nine o'clock we made our way down fr breakfast which we
found was laid in the large dancing hall of the Hotel and

198 V.R. 76

consisted of bread butter anchoveys and coffee and you
may bet we did it Justice, I think the waiter at the table
who looked A trusty old Soul must have thought we were
cannibals fr after our half bread feed on the train and A
bust up on water the night before we were what you might
call hungry any way we managed to get the better of that
and then went to find out what the order of the day was to
be and you may bet we got A shock when later we were told
we were not going on that day as there was something to be
done with regards to our papers so we Just put in our time
seeing what we could of Paris the beautifully City You hear
so much about when A child going to school but to my way
of thinking it is like A good many other large towns and
cities very nice in themselves with some splendid buildings
parks and gardens nice streets and pavements but really
nothing better than our own English towns and cities only
perhaps the buildings are A little different in construction
as some one tried to argue one day that paris was cleaner than
London A wonder too when one is supposed to be A city
of pleasure and the other reeking with the dust and smoke
of factorys, well we did our best until about nine when we
thought it was quite time to hop it off to bed and we did
and no doubt we slept well until the music of the taxies
awoke us in the morning which was bright and sunny again
we got up and went to breakfast again it was as yesterday
but no sight seeing this time our marching orders had arrived
so at about ten o'clock we started with our bags for the
station nine men one or two officers and A Lady accom-
panying us when we reach the corner of the street we Just
plumped ourselves and bags into some taxies and away we
went to the station arriving at which we had to wait some
time before we were certain about getting away but our
papers proved to be correct so we were allowed to get on with
our Journey thanks to the train for being in the station
some time before it wanted to start we climbed in with
our luggage and off we went for Ris Orangis where we arrived
about midday hot and dry we carted our bags as far as the
Hotel chemin de Ferre where we were to stop fr the time
being quite objects of interest to all the inhabitants and
the ordinary congregation of children when anything new
blows along into A village.

(To be continued.)

THE HOWL" 199

CHAPTER III

" HAVING reached the noteable Hotel of Riss and deposited
our kit bags and settled on our rooms and the kind Lady
accompanying us and Dr Kennedy arranging fr some dinner
for the day and the remainder of the time we might be stay-
ing at the Hotel we went off to visit what is now the Hospital
but what was then like something put up in A wilderness
for the gate house was the first thing to catch ones eye on
entering the gate A very neglected looking place with most
of the windows broken and infested with spiders and webs
and A store house fr the concerge at the gate and what now
is the offices were then A poultry rearing house but after
passing some remarks which very much differed one from
the other we were told to wait until we had seen the building
before passing any opinion of course we none of us was aware
that there was such A building as the hospital here until
we managed to struggle up the drive which was about ankle
deep with loose ashes and they were still pilling more on
top of them well on reaching the building we found A few
frenchmen in posession A chef A sergeant and some twenty
men I dont know how long they had been there but at any
rate nothing looked to have been done for chaos reigned
supreme we were conducted over the building amidst dust
and cobwebs, it was a perfect house of rack and ruin for
there was plaster and tiling thrown about all over the place
electric wires and fittings some on the floors some hanging
in artistic fashion from the walls in some of the rooms were
A bed or more than one very dusty but made up ready for
use but smelling very musty well after having our intro-
duction to the building we made our way back to the Hotel
to A real good dinner and giving the people at the Hotel
all due credit we had most excellent meals and accommoda-
tion fr the two weeks we were there during this time we
were working at the Hospital going back to meals as the
times came round our hours were not hard or long as we
were working in conjunction with the french staff and they
neither beleived in long hours or much work, so we had A
fairly good time first we cleared the beds such as there were
on to the top floor attic to be stowed away so that the french
staff could get on with white washing and painting but dont
make us laugh this is where the Joke comes in we used
to arrive at the hospital in the morning well we wont say

200 V.R. 76

the time or you may be envious but I dont really think
putting all things togeather that you kneed be for even
now times are not so bad as far as I can see but that has
nothing to do with our first expearance we came I say to
work Yes it was spelt Work and we did it too with A will
and so much energy that we made the dust fly so every one
was drove to drink and as it was very hot and dry I think
every one was very well pleased over it but that was all
of course we were englich and the french were very delighted
to give us an afternoons entertainment now and again to
show their feeling and the longer we stayed with them the
better they liked it but that did not do the work and every
one was anxious to see the place begin to look A little bit
tidy but it seemed A thing impossible."

In another vein, romantic, rather than realistic, is this anony-
mous short story :

"THE HIDDEN FLAME, OR THE TERROR OF
THE NIGHT"

"' IT was night. Darkness and silence reigned among the
dripping trees of the surrounding forest. In the long corridors
and lofty chambers of the crowded hospital the lights were
long since extinguished. Only a few murky lanterns flickered
on the floors, beside the reclining figures of the night-nurses
and orderlies, whose peaceful snoring was the only sound to
be heard. Occasionally a wakeful patient spoke aloud : and
once a convalescent (who had too freely celebrated his first
day's permission) began to moan, ' A boire, a boire — pour
V amour de Dieu — Je meurs de soif! ' ' Och ! ' said the
nurse, waking up. ' Yon man's wantin' the window shut
again : and he'll just no get it. Orderly ! go and tell him
in the French that if he disna be quiet, I'll get the doctor
to him.' The orderly woke up with a grunt, and took his
lantern to the bedside of the moaning man. But he had not
yet acquired that perfect fluency in Gallic oratory which
distinguishes the personnel of Anglo-French hospitals.

" ' Stop it,' he said, severely. ' Si vous — si vous ne stoppez
pas — docteur id toutsweet.9 The patient was silent for a
time, and the orderly returned to his seat. Algernon Percy

"THE HOWL" 201

Fitz-Cholmondley — for such was our hero's name — was not,
however, to find his repose again so easily as he lost it. He
had hardly drawn his blanket around him again when a
strange discomfort assailed him. He sat up straight, stirred
restlessly and sniffed.

' Something burning,' he said to himself.

" It is needless to elaborate his growing sense of horror :
let it suffice to say that his sense of duty was even greater
and that, after a little more sniffing, he hastened to the
lofty abode of the President of the Night- Orderlies and
begged that dignitary to sniff likewise. The P. of the N.O.
said nothing, but took up his lantern and went off to
search.

" Not so Cholmondley. In him a clearer light of duty
showed the way to glory. He remembered having seen
notices, faded and dim with venerable age, posted upon the
corridor walls and telling clearly what to do in case the
unutterable happened. To one of these notices he repaired
with enormous haste and read it through from top to bottom.
How perfect it was ! How beautifully it settled the function
of everyone, gave each his duty, and organised the salva-
tion of all the inmates ! Tears of relief welled into his eyes.
And yet he was pained to see that his own name was not on
the list. No duty was ascribed to him. He must blot
himself out, and let the others do it. He read the names
with emotion. Most of them were names of people who
had long since left the hospital : yet they would all be at
their stations. From England, Holland, America, they
would come to start work with fire-hose and extinguishers,
buckets and stretchers. Every member of the Hospital
Administration would doubtless receive the Legion of Honour
of the President of the Republic, for having organised that
great work of salvation with such superb forethought and
care. And he, alas ! would get nothing, for there was no
job left for him to do. But yes — he would — he would be
decorated too, for having read the notice in face of danger.
For that devotion to duty he did feel that he deserved the
Royal Red Cross at least.

" But, while he dreamed thus of duty and of glory, no
bell was rung by the first floor nurse, instead, the President
of the Night Orderlies came back with his lantern and said
the fire was already extinguished. It was only an extra
tough mutton chop that had remained uneaten from supper
and had been carelessly thrown on the Diet-Kitchen fire.
It made a terrible stink indeed, but was easy enough to

202 V.R. 76

extinguish if the Chief Night Orderly's language had not
kept on setting it alight again.

" INFIRMIER DE JOUR."

The following report of a concert is a characteristic piece
of work :

GRAND CONCERT AT HOSPITAL REESO RONGIS.
October 32nd, 1917.

We had the pleasure of being present at a grand concert
on Tuesday evening next given by the (dis) orderlies at the
English Hospital Resso Rangis :

Messrs. Bennett and Levett were very well received in
their duet entitled we are two careless men :

Mr. Bruce was herd to fine effect in A baritone solo entitled
" What was it he said " :

Mr. Frost received an encore for the song oh that I had
the wings of an incinerater and gave also — what shall I do
when dressings are no more :

Mr. Levett was applauded for the recitation : " A bold glad
poet am I " :

Mr. Bennett then gave A naval turn on the screen his
recent hair breadth escape from A rapidly desending drug
basket.

Mr. Applegarths fine voice was too powerful for the limited
space of the concert room he giving the following :
" In the shade of the Radiograph tree," and for "A well
deserved encore," " A new Zealand laddie am I."

Mr. Larcher next gave an exhibition of his mesmeric powers
the subject being the homely flea and the harmless Bug
needless to say his marvellous performance diddled his
audience so much that they felt compelled to scratch them-
selves.

Mr. Tiddly Beer gave A conguring performance in which
he kidded his audience so much that he made them believe
that hot water with long pieces of carrot in it was wholesome
soup and the way in which he transfered ordinary sheeps
liver into emeletts and the common rabbit into turkey was
simply marvellous.

Mr. Christy sang the well-known ditty " Pass the Jam "
and for an encore gave " Procession be sugared."

'THE HOWL" 203

Mr. Spiers whose songs in the past have scored such huge
successes gave " Oh what A happy day is pay day " and
" My last 5 franc note."

Mr. Careless gave a series of lightning sketches — the one
which pleased the audience most being entitled : " Vandaline
and Vistalie."

Mr. Matthews deserved the great reception he received
for his humerous songs : " Fums up " and " My little bit on
the seen (Seine) " :

As A concluding selection the entire company gave the
national Hospital anthem " God have mercey on our
caterer " :

Mr. Simpson very abley performed the onerous duties of
chairman much against his wishes ;

Mr. Porter made an efficient accompanist on the Piano
harp symbals big drum and firelin.

Finally here are some brief scintillations :

ANISEED-DROPS, TRUE AND OTHERWISE

Scene Operating theatre — 1st Floor Hospital Volentair
S-J-F.

Doctor (administering aneusithetic for operation in abdo-
men). Now take A deep breath.

Operating Surgeon Are You ready ?

Doctor Yes carry on !

Surgeon makes incision.

Patient oh ! la ! la ! I can feel that !

Doctor (stroking patients face) Shut up ! Your under !
Its Just imagination !

POLICE NEWS

On Friday last a man giving the name of Carless was
brought up charged with exceeding the speed limit. Evidence
was produced showing that the ground floor of Ris was
positively dangerous on account of the manner in which the
orderlies dashed about. (The Magistrate) " Carless by name
and careless by nature " (Loud laughter). The superinten-
dant remarked that only last week another man was fined

204 V.R. 76

for this offence at the same place. The magistrate remarked
that the court was quite determined to put an end to this
sort of thing and that any future offence would be very
severely dealt with. Fined 10 f.

POLICE NEWS

Taffy Matthews was brought up at the Ris Orangis Police
Court charged with hurrying. Prisoner who appeared to
be much affected pleaded guilty but denied that he was on
duty at the time. Fined 5 f.

PILLS

THE Dispensary and the charge of the surgical supplies
came upon my shoulders as early as 1915, wished upon me
by Dr. Kennedy. The duties were understood to be tem-
porary, but they lasted to the end and to them were later
added the duties of Superintendent. As my help never
exceeded an assistant and an orderly and, at some periods,
an orderly only, some heavy spells of work were encoun-
tered and, but for the faithfulness and devotion of my
helpers at all times and the generous co-operation of every-
one, the difficulties would have been insurmountable.
Particularly as, later on, I was called upon to undertake
similar duties at a Paris hospital which necessitated my
absence three days a week for some nine months.

The pharmacy and surgical supplies presented their own
peculiar problems. Most of our doctors were American and
nearly all our supplies came from the French Military Phar-
macy, through the Service de Sante, and the amounts of the
various medicaments and drugs allowed under military
regime did not at all fit in with the habitual usage of our
doctors. Many drugs used in quantity by the French
surgeons were not used at all by our staff, while we consumed
unheard-of quantities of other things. Many surgical instru-
ments and special drugs had to be sought elsewhere, a
tedious and exasperating business.

Many of the drugs from the French source had to be cor-
rected to the English and American strength to prevent
errors in dosage, and this was done in bulk, not only for
convenience, but for accuracy.

I recall an inspection by the Pharmacien Principal of
the Service de Sante, who made periodical visits to see
that the regulations relating to a French military dispensary
were carried out. One such law is, that only small quan-
tities of inflammable materials shall be kept in stock if the
pharmacy is in the hospital. Judge of my feelings when
M. le Pharmacien Principal mounted (unconscious of its
contents) on a case holding ten bottles of ether in order to

208

206 V.R. 76

inspect a top shelf and reproved me gravely for having two
bottles of ether up there.

Pharmacy holds an important position in the French
regime ; the principal holds the rank of major and a pharmacist
is invariably of command rank.

Under these conditions it is easy to conceive how I felt
at the approaching departure of my assistant or orderly,
and this occurred twice by order of the military authorities,
who decided they were fit to count sugar-cases at home.

To give some idea of the quantities dealt in, I may mention
that over 40,000 litres of one antiseptic solution were dispensed.

A list of our pharmaceutical supplies is given in the
Appendix. As I look back, I often wonder how the folk
about me tolerated my irritable disposition at all and did
not leave en bloc.

The following lines, which I found pinned to the pharmacy
door one day when I returned from duty in Paris, reflected,
I suppose, the opinion the hospital had of me:

THE NEVER-OPEN DOOR

The Pharmacy is open when

" Other work permits "

And Mr. Gage can find the time

To read our little slips.

We always place our orders then,

When " other work permits,"

But find them unattended to

When he to Paris flits.

We'd never trouble him at all

If he the door would leave

Wide open to the clamouring crowd

From morn to dewy eve,

But go and help our little selves

To carbolic and thermoms.

And in their place when he returned

He'd find our little " Bons."

S. RAY.

A NURSE TO HER DIARY

December 19, 1916.

I HAVE been plunged right into ward work. And even
though it is only my first day, I am so glad, for it will be so
much more interesting than the work that I had expected
to do.

We arise at half-past six, breakfast at seven and go on
duty at half after seven. My first duty was to make beds.
After that I assisted slightly with the dressings, but that
was mostly watching. I certainly was proud of myself, for
I never turned a hair. The men are so patient. Some of
the wounds are simply ghastly. And some of them have
so many.

I must confess that I felt much bewildered, it is all so
strange.

I was sent to several different rooms to prepare patients
for their dressings. It was often a puzzle to know just what
to do, for their dressings were often very complicated,
especially those in suspensions. I was so afraid of hurting
them.

We have tea at ten o'clock and dinner at twelve. We eat
off oilcloth, without any formalities. After dinner I was
dispatched to the " prince's" room. My task was to help
him with his dinner. I had to cut his food, etc. I was
greatly amused by his condescending manner.

After that I made more beds for the patients who had
gotten up after their dinner, polished instruments and gave
alcohol rubs. You have no idea what a real pleasure it is
to do anything at all for them. They are so grateful for
the smallest favor and oh, so patient.

January 11, 1917.

Lieut. Borel received word to-day that he is to be decorated
with the Legion of Honour shortly. I do hope they will
decorate him here.

I am becoming so attached to my blesses. They are just
like a lot of hurt children. ... If I am given any other

207

208 V.R. 76

work to do I shall miss the personal contact with the men
greatly. I had to hold one poor creature's hands by force
yesterday while they dressed a horrible wound in his side —
and he was so grateful to me afterwards. It was pathetic.

Four men were evacuated yesterday . . . they hated to
go, for the poor souls were going back to the front.

I have been helping more and more with the dressings
lately — so many of them are horribly painful ones — one feels
rather limp after they are all over.

January 16.

Lieut. Borel was decorated yesterday. He was wounded
a year ago September through the hip and the wound is still
open.

January 25.

My nice brave Lieut. Borel has " gone out," as they say
here. He is the one who was decorated but ten days ago.
His death was most sad. They operated on Saturday to
find out why the wound in his hip refused to heal. . . .
Evidently his whole side was corrodated. It is so sad to
think his fifteen months of patient suffering to be in vain.
Oh, how my heart aches for his mother ! He is the second
son she has lost, and the third one is in the trenches. This
one was just twenty-seven. I longed so to be able to talk
to her and could do so through her daughter, who speaks
English very well. She seemed so grateful for my sympathy.
The other nurses were all too busy to pay much attention to
her. She was a most pathetic figure waiting outside the
door of his room during the hemorrhages. The funeral is
to be held to-morrow morning in the little chapel. I am
hoping to be able to go.

. . . You should have seen me making beds this a.m.
with the first violinist of the Grand Opera of Paris. He is
our postman, and he has been ill with pleurisy and a patient
on our floor.

I had a wonderful shampoo last night. The barber for
the bless&s does it for the nurses. He is really splendid. I
believe in peace time he is at the Ritz in Paris. We also
have one of the best Paris dentists here. Of course these
men are all under military orders.

February 17.

I am awakened at 6.30 by the rising bell. The next ten
or fifteen minutes are spent trying to make up my mind to
get out of bed. After a hurried dressing I descend three

A NURSE TO HER DIARY 209

flights of stairs to the dining-room, where we breakfast on
oatmeal, coffee, bread, butter and jam. (I would give
almost anything for some real coffee.) After breakfast I go
immediately to the wards and begin making beds. I have
become quite adept at changing sheets and drawing sheets
under poor souls who hate to be moved. By the time this
is finished the doctor arrives for the dressings. My duty is
then to wait on Mrs. MacLean and Miss Ross, who assist the
doctor. I put rubber sheeting under patients to be dressed,
take off bandages, run errands, help the orderly with the
sterilising, put back some of the simple bandages, hold the
hands of those who are having the hardest time. After the
dressings are finished and I have tidied the beds and wards,
generally I clean feet or hands that have been in apparatuses
for some time. This is not as bad as it sounds. In fact, I
quite enjoy it. I put on a soap poultice one day and the
next day I skin the poultice from a hand, for that is literally
what happens. At half-past eleven I help serve the dinners
to those on special diets. Then at twelve o'clock I enjoy
my own dinner, which consisted to-day of sardines, chicken
and potatoes, tangerines and dates.

After dinner I immediately go the contagious ward and
wash the dishes. We have got one patient there now with
erysipelas. The next on the program is to get up some of
the patients into their wheel chairs, make their beds and tidy
the wards. After that there is nothing of consequence until
half-past two or three, when I either rub backs or take tem-
peratures. Sometimes I do both if the others are very busy.
At three o'clock milk, egg-nog and bouillon is served to some
who need special nourishment.

At four o'clock we have our own tea, then it is time to
remove the spreads from the beds. At half-past five the
suppers are served, after that I put on the extra blankets for
the night, shake up the pillows and make them generally
comfortable for the night. Some time during each day I
have two hours' rest, which are always filled to overflowing :
stockings to be darned, nails to be manicured, French to be
studied, walks to be taken and sometimes, in spite of my
best resolutions, a nap.

Dinner, or rather supper, is served at half-past six and
seven. After supper we talk a bit, etc. Wednesday and
Saturday mornings I have French for an hour. Once a
month I indulge in a shampoo ... it is so restful. . . .

My special pet on this floor is Jean Longe, a little dark-
haired boy of twenty-one. His home is near Spain, on the

210 V.R. 76

slopes of the Pyrenees, and he is a gardener by profession.
He is the one for whom I want so much to get an artificial
leg. Yesterday he received a small box of apples from home.
He presented me with the prettiest one in the box. They
just adore giving you things, and you must always accept,
or their feelings are terribly hurt. Another blessi has quite
insisted upon my using his watch, as I have broken the crystal
on mine and, it being an Ingersoll, I cannot get it fixed on
this side.

One or two of the blesses have little French-English conver-
sation books, which they study diligently and make little
speeches to one. One said to me the other day that I spoke
English and he spoke French, but we always understood
each other.

May I.

I am in the Diet Kitchen. It will only be temporarily — until
Miss Robertson can get someone else. It is an attractive
little spot, everything is so nice and clean. I have a little
old Frenchwoman to help me. I have to make cocoa,
bouillon, lemonade, egg-nog, etc. If any of the staff are ill,
I prepare their meals. When we have new patients I shall
be quite busy, just now there is next to nothing.

My blessls seemed sorry to have me leave the ward. After
you have waited on them for four months, you know all of
their little ways and just how they like to have a thing done.
They are so jealous of one another and so fearful that you
are going to do a little bit more for one than for another.
It is quite embarrassing to have your favorite patients
from different wards get together.

On Friday last we had a most enjoyable service here.
Bishop Bury, Bishop of Northern Europe, conducted it.
He is a most charming old man. Having recently visited the
English detention camps in Germany, he had many interesting
things to relate. His address was most helpful and did us
all a world of good.

May 22.

We have many grands blessSs, as they say. Some of the
last to come in were in a most filthy condition and it took
much scrubbing with quantities of soap. They had been in
the trenches for several weeks. Did I tell you that we have
an Arab ? He says he is only fifteen, and he certainly does
not look any older. He has become the hospital pet. He
is such a little gentleman — refusing to eat even an orange
without a fork !

A NURSE TO HER DIARY 211

Last week one of the doctors on another floor invited me
to see some of his dressings. One poor creature had his spinal
cord exposed about six inches. Mercifully he is not living
now. Another one has had both his hands dreadfully in-
jured, so is absolutely helpless. While feeding him the other
day he asked me to take from his pocket a picture of his
wife and children so that he could look at it. His home is in
the invaded country, and he has heard nothing from them
since the beginning of the war. In spite of all the dreadful-
ness, it is impossible to be depressed while in the wards
among the men — for their spirit is too marvelous to be real
almost. ... I have one little friend in Salle A. whom I bathed
when he first came in — he is shot right through the abdomen.
At first we did not think he could possibly live, but he
seems actually to be getting better. He has been decorated
twice and keeps his medals lying beside him. He is like a
little frightened, hurt animal.

June 13.

Among our recent arrivals are two men with double
amputations. One boy of twenty has both feet amputated
and has lost an eye. The other one's entire legs are gone.
There is nothing to do for the second, but I should so love
to give artificial legs to the little chap. Poor little chap, he
has the sunniest disposition and just smiles all the time.

July 20.

For the moment we are rather quiet. I am so delighted
to have the money for the legs for " Bleuet." He is so
delighted. Poor little chap, his dressings are so painful,
but he never so much as whimpers. I always put on the
bandages after the doctor has done the dressings. He never
wants anyone else to put them on. How depressing the
whole situation is these days — everyone seems so depressed.
The Russians evidently are not to be relied on. ...

Yesterday was the second anniversary of the hospital.
We had a large fete. Lady Johnstone was decorated, also
several of the administrators and some of the English
orderlies and nurses. There was an orchestra from Paris
and caterers with marvelous things to eat.

October 2.

' Bleuet " has had his bad eye removed — he has been
pretty forlorn for a few days, he has had beaucoup cafard.
But now he is his own happy self again. He is to be measured
for his legs this week and is so happy.

212 V.R. 76

October 23.

Little Andre Aubin has been measured for his legs. It
will be about a month before he will have them. I have
still enough money for another leg, and I am going to give
one leg to another double amputation case ; Mr. Reckitt will
see that he gets the other.

October 81.

Monday morning I had a most interesting experience. I
went into Paris with " Bleuet " for the first fitting of his
" new legs." Much to my surprise I was given permission
to go with him. It was my first ride in the ambulance, and
the first time that I had been to Paris by motor. It is a run
of about an hour. Another boy who had lost one leg came
with us. Mr. Phillips, who drove the car, took us all to
lunch. We caused quite a sensation when we entered the
restaurant, as one of the orderlies carried " Bleuet" on his
back. He will probably have his legs in about two weeks,
and is so happy.

November 9.

Just eleven months ago yesterday since I sailed out of
New York harbour.

This morning I went into Paris with " Bleuet " to get his
legs. The boy is so happy — it is such a pleasure to see him.
He walked out of the shop beautifully with the aid of crutches.
It will be no time at all before he will walk without the aid
of crutches, I am sure.

This morning I have had a surprise piece of news. I am
to be put on to night duty. I shall be glad of the experience.
The night nurses sleep in a little cottage near the station.
It is a comfortable house, with wonderful French beds !

December 4.

I am beginning to get a little more used to night duty. It
is a solitary existence, I can tell you. But I suppose I should
not complain, as it is the first real hardship I have had to
undergo since I came. It would be more interesting if I had
more to do, but the majority of my patients sleep from
8.30 p.m. till 5.30 a.m. It is only the operation cases that
need my attention, and usually not much then. I have just
one little boy who does not sleep well, and I find some little
thing almost every hour to do for him. He is a little boy
who has had the terrible weight on his leg. His constant
cry is, " Ah, mees — mees, je souffre — je souffre, ma pauvre

A NURSE TO HER DIARY 213

jambe — ma pauvre jambe" I am thankful to say he is
more comfortable to-day and seems to be sleeping fairly well.
. . . We take walks almost every morning before going to
sleep — several times we have been to Juvisy, sometimes we
go on bicycles, other times we take the train over and walk
back. It is most interesting in the mornings, as there are
always troop trains there. One day we saw English boys on
their way to Salonica. The next time there were Serbians
and Turks, also quite a bunch of German prisoners. . . .
One of the boys presented me with a basket that he had
made himself. It is a cunning little basket made of raffia.

December 26.

My second Xmas in France is a thing of the past. I
wonder if I will still be here next Xmas. Again I have
enjoyed it immensely. It was a beautiful tree and the
Santa Claus was one of the French orderlies — a poor little
soul whose family, a wife and four children, are in the invaded
district. He gets just a line from them about once in six
months. After the Xmas gifts had been distributed we had
a concert. A woman from Paris sang and one of the blesses
who has quite a remarkable voice. The programme was con-
cluded with the " Marseillaise," sung in a most dramatic
fashion by the soloist. Alter this the English orderlies
came forward, carrying their flag and sang " God Save the
King." While they were singing I was desperately wishing
that arrangements had been made to sing " The Star- Spangled
Banner." One of the Englishmen grabbed an American
flag and threw it at me, saying, " Come on, Miss L. ! " I
looked desperately round for help. The only American that
I saw was Miss MacFadden — I beckoned to her and we
climbed on to the platform and sang, or at least attempted
to. Judging from the applause, at least, everyone was
pleased that we had enough spirit to do it. My legs shook
for about an hour after. Don't you think it contemptible
that not one of the American doctors came to our aid? I
was furious and I told them what I thought. Of course
they all gave the excuse that they could not sing ! I hope
they do not think that I think I can sing.

December 27.

Yesterday we had the best party of all. The nurses and
doctors gave a Xmas tree for the schoolchildren ageing
from four years to eight years. There were 148. Each
child was given a muffler and cape, a small toy of some kind

214 V.R. 76

and a little stocking filled with candy. Santa Claus again
appeared on the scene and such excitement as he caused. I
do not believe they had ever seen such a thing before. For
refreshment we gave them bread and butter and jam. How
they ate ! It was a perfect joy to see them " stow " it away.
Mr. Reckitt presented the nurses with little silver identi-
fication discs for our wrists. Everyone was so delighted.
One side has my name and home address and on the other
side is the hospital address. Lady Johnstone gave each a
small picture -frame. After the children's Xmas tree I had
several hours before going on duty. I spent them going
through the hospital and talking with all the bed patients.
They were all so delighted with what had been done for
them. It really was pathetic. The saddest man in the
house was a Portuguese aviator — he seemed terribly home-
sick. He is a most attractive man, a lieutenant in the army.
They evidently make a great deal of Xmas in Portugal.

January 19, 1918.

My evening's work is practically finished and it is only
9.30 p.m. I must go into the ward at ten o'clock to turn on
two " Dakin drips," and after that there is nothing to do
till five in the morning. My evening's work when I come
on duty is just a lot of simple little things — shaking up
pillows, cleaning " Bleuet' s" stumps with ether and the
other double amputation case, giving " Bleuet " boric
acid to wash out his eye-socket. Poor wee chap, he has
been rather unruly lately and I have been much provoked.
But you cannot stay angry when he climbs up on the bed
and takes off first one leg and then the other and then out comes
his glass eye. When he gets his legs off he is such a scrap
of humanity. You must forgive him anything. It is time
that he was evacuated — this is no place for convalescent
men, the rules are too strict.

February 6.

My little " Bleuet," Andre Aubin, has been so naughty
lately. He has been deliberately going to Paris again and
again without permission. So, finally, Colonel Keller gave
the order that his legs should be taken away until he can be
evacuated. I did not like the idea at all — it seemed to be
taking such an unfair advantage of the boy — but, of course,
the Colonel's orders had to be carried out. Much to my
indignation, I was told to take them away at night. When
I went to get them I found that he had gotten a heavy chain

A NURSE TO HER DIARY 215

and lock and had fastened them to his bed, refusing to let
me have them. After much persuasion he finally unlocked
them and gave them up. Poor wee chap — he cried and I
cried. I almost felt as though I were cutting off his legs
again. I think he realised that I hated doing it, but respected
me for carrying out my orders. When he finally let me take
them, he said, " I'll let you have them for your sake, miss,
but not because the Colonel has ordered it." I do hope they
will get his papers through very soon. It hurts me so to see
him so helpless again and also I am in constant fear as to
what he may do. It is almost a week now and he is getting
very, very rebellious and impatient.

April 19.

Yesterday we received a piece of news that was really a
bomb in our midst. The hospital is to be turned over to
the French Government the 1st of June. Dr. Carrel is to
be in charge, and as he wishes to have all French doctors
and nurses in his staff, it means that we must all leave. It
came like a bolt from the blue. It has been rumored that
something of the kind might happen ever since I have been
here. This spring it was said to be possible, but then the
whole place was restocked, so everyone thought that we
were safe for at least the summer. It will be with great
regrets that I shall leave. We still continue busy and
probably will continue so. We will have the satisfaction of
leaving a full house. You can't imagine how triste I am
at leaving my French bless&s. I just won't allow myself to
think of it.

May 17.

Another bomb was dropped in our midst this noon. The
hospital here is to remain open indefinitely. . . . Maurice
Nonge has gone home for two months' convalescence before
having a bone-graft. My heart aches for the boy, he has
such a long time ahead of him in hospital. He wept
actually when he said good-bye to me. I shall miss him
sadly — he has been here so long. Another one of my special
friends leaves here to-morrow — Xavier Borde. He is such
a dear lad ; he has waited on me hand and foot — has most of
the beds made for me in the morning, etc. It is needless to
say I shall miss him. He is practically all right, except that
he has great shortening of one leg — almost two inches. He
came into the ward early in the morning in order to help me
with the beds. One boy who has had a terribly painful
amputation, whom we have moved only with the greatest

216 V.R. 76

difficulty, said, " Now I can have my mattress turned," so
Xavier gently lifted him in his strong arms and put him on
another bed while we turned the mattress. All of the blesses
had the greatest confidence in him and he never refused
them anything. He took pleasure in taking out of my hands
any disagreeable task he saw me performing. Although I am
sure he could often be rough of speech and manner, he never
once said or did anything to offend me in any way. He
certainly is one who has made my love for the French much
deeper. The blind boy has been sent on to another hospital.
I was sorry to see him go. He had become quite cheerful
and entertaining before he left and was quite amusing during
his meals when I fed him. He promised to send me word,
letting me know where he is and what is being done for him.
My little Swiss boy from the Foreign Legion has also gone.
He was such a droll little creature, only twenty years old
and already with two years' service to his credit. When I
asked him why he enlisted, he answered in broken French,
" out of sympathy." He was constantly writing German
poetry, and some of his themes were very sweet. He had
many times during the day his little joke of begging for
" cognac " and saying that he was away to the cafe*, as he
must have a drink. Then he would assure you that he
really never drank and that the national beverage of
Switzerland is water.

July 23.

We had four Americans — now we have eight altogether.
They were all terribly wounded men. The operations were
simply frightful. One lad from Texas had his leg amputated.
I have always said that I never wanted to see an amputation.
And it is just as dreadful as I feared. I do not believe that
I could have stood it if I had not been busy. The boy had a
gas infection, and the operation came too late — the poor lad
died last night. It certainly comes nearer home when it is
one of your own. He was such a fine -looking lad and so
brave, they said, right up to the very end.

The news is certainly wonderful these days, but oh, the
price ! The tales that those boys have told me were heart-
rending. Their courage is just marvelous. I have always
said that the French boys are wonderful, but our boys are
more than wonderful. They are just as brave and cheerful,
just as ready to smile and joke. There is one lad of twenty
from Arkansas who is such a treat — a real little Southerner.
All he had with him when he came in was a pocket Testament

A NURSE TO HER DIARY 217

and a picture of his sister. He showed it to me and said that
he had not been given a chance to read it by the Boche for
the last two weeks. These boys were at the front for fifty-
three days without being relieved, with no chance to get off
their clothes. Such filth and dirt I never saw.

August 10.

We still keep busy, for, as you know, the fighting con-
tinues— the Germans seem well on the run now. The news
is assuredly good.

There is no lack of Americans here now — the streets are
full of them. Last night, when I went out for a few minutes
after supper, there was a game of baseball going on in the
little street in front of the hospital. It did me a great deal of
good to see them. . . . One night this week I went over with
another girl to the officers' headquarters for about an hour
to listen to some singing. There is a regiment or, rather,
company of negroes. Their singing was so sweet. They
sang so many old plantation melodies and finished with
" My Old Kentucky Home." It gave me a queer feeling
when I realised that I was sitting in an army camp in France
listening to American negroes sing. The world is most
assuredly upside down.

September 9.

This is a most disconsolate place — we are getting our
patients evacuated very rapidly. There are only forty-five
in the house now. We have only fifteen in our ward and
eight of them go out to-morrow. The work here has lost
its interest, and the sooner we can get away the better.
I presume they will all be gone by Thursday, and after that
we will get things packed, to be sent on to the new hospital.

We are going as a unit into the service of the American
Red Cross to an Allied hospital, which means, I presume,
that we do the same sort of work that we have been doing
here — caring for the French. It is going to be, oh, so hard
to leave here, for this has come to be almost a home.

WEAL AND WOE IN THE LINEN-ROOM

IN the summer of 1916 I went home on three weeks' leave
and on my return found the powers that be had decided I
was to take over the Linen-Room in addition to the Diet
Kitchen.

Now when I went to Ris I knew nothing of diet work,
but I can truthfully say that I knew rather less than nothing
about linen and a linen-room, so that it was with considerable
misgiving that I finally gave way and agreed to " try." It
was arranged that Marie should take whole day duty in the
kitchen, with another woman for the night shift ; the woman
already in the Linen-Room was to remain, and Simpson was
to be orderly for both departments. From then on, most of
my time was spent amongst sheets and shirts and I finally
gave up the direction of the Diet Kitchen the following
Christmas, as it was not possible to be responsible for the
proper running of two departments when one took up as much
of my time as did the Linen-Room.

My new habitation was a third part of what had originally
been the chapel. Stone walls and vast pseudo-Gothic ceiling,
plus a tiled floor and stained glass windows, made it a coldly
depressing spot during the short, dark winter days. All
the same, it became a serious rival to the Diet Kitchen in my
affections and, on a hot afternoon, its cool immensity made
it a haven of refuge.

The previous " Linen Lady " had left some two months
before her mantle devolved upon me, and in the gap between
her departure and my arrival matters had attained a chaos
totally out of keeping with our Matron's ideas of efficiency.
The arrears of mending were positively appalling. Madame
(the refreshingly simple title of my factotum) was an ex-
cellent worker and a more than clever seamstress, but, alas,
her bump of order was a yawning cavity.

Our great stumbling-block in the Linen-Room was the fact
that, thanks to the sudden descent of that first unexpected
convoy, the wards had had to be equipped without an in-
ventory being taken and it had somehow been subsequently

218

WEAL AND WOE IN THE LINEN-ROOM 219

overlooked. However, with Matron's co-operation one was
put together and, whilst it was in progress, I enjoyed the
fullest unpopularity. My appearance at the door of a ward
was a signal for a groan of mingled protest and apprehension
from the nurse in charge and I lived the life of an Ishmael
till the miserable thing was completed.

A most tiresome undertaking it was. Five separate counts
had to be taken; (1) the linen actually on the Linen-Room
shelves ; (2) the linen in use ; (3) all bed equipment in the staff
dormitories ; (4) the out-going wash, and (5) the incoming wash.
It would be impossible to give anyone an idea of the elusive-
ness of hospital equipment. Its one object in life seems to be
to get itself counted twice over. But it was done at last, and
entered into a beautiful new book bought for the occasion.
In fact, I had three beautiful brand-new books, which were as
the apple of my eye, and which became very glorious indeed
with red ink and black ink and very straight lines; no
outsider was allowed to make so much as a pencil-mark in
them and Madame, with a pride nearly equal to my own,
would have guarded them to the death in her own rotund
person. One was a ledger containing the weekly and half-
weekly accounts copied from the two outgoing washing-
books, and the other held the daily entries of linen given out.
I wrote in them solemnly and with keen enjoyment and would,
I am sure, have met the Recording Angel on terms of the
purest social equality.

Our system was very simple. Every morning an orderly
from each floor brought down the previous day's soiled linen
to the great bathroom on the ground floor, where Simpson
counted it and entered the number of each article under its
own heading against the day of the week. The wash went
out on Wednesdays and Sundays (Wednesday's washing
returning on Sunday and vice versa), when the totals were
made up and entered into the outgoing laundry-book, from
which they were checked on their return. Our own camion
took away the wash and brought it back, and our own
orderlies saw to the loading and unloading. Everything
was tied in the huge, coarse French army sheets, whose
central seam prohibited their use on the patients' beds, and
on wash-day the Linen-Room floor was stacked high with the
large square packages, waiting to be opened and their con-
tents counted.

One rule we had, as invariable as the Laws of the Medes
and Persians, that every article must, without exception,
be opened and examined for possible holes before being

220 V.R. 76

placed on its appointed shelf. Our method of procedure
was to pile everything in tens and when every package had
disgorged its contents, the count was made and checked from
the laundry-book. Then began the real work. The sheets
we left to the last, as they required to be opened and re-
folded, but everything else was done separately. The shirts,
drawsheets, drawers, pyjamas, pillow-cases and rubber-ring
covers were my portion, whilst Madame undertook the
socks (an appalling and almost endless task), aprons, overalls
and, worst of all, the torchons. Torchons was a generic
name for all cup-towels, tea-towels, glass-cloths, face-towels,
bath-towels, etc., and as they were a most motley crowd,
even in their own units, sorting them correctly was something
in the nature of a Pelman exercise.

Wednesday was the day of the " big " wash, and a busy day
in the Linen-Room, with no off duty for either of us. As we
averaged roughly 180 to 200 sheets, some 350 drawsheets,
400 pillow-cases and rubber-ring covers, 180 to 200 shirts,
and about 500 to 600 torchons for each wash, to mention only
the heaviest items, it will be seen that the individual examina-
tion of each article entailed a very considerable amount of
work. Nevertheless, by dint of practice, we became so
expert that the stroke of seven usually saw everything in
place and the mending piled on its shelves in the drying-
hutch.

With regard to the mending, we evolved the scheme of
rolling any article with more than one hole, so that no time
was wasted later in re-searching for damage. Saving time
was a most important matter, as all linen was given out
to the wards on Friday mornings and our stock was not
sufficiently large to supply the wards without recourse to
the newly-arrived wash. Consequently those garments of
which our supply was lowest had to be mended on Thursday
in readiness for distribution next day. Two girls from
the village, the daughters of the local plumber and butcher
respectively, volunteered to come on Thursday afternoons
and help with the mending, and were of the greatest
assistance. Without them we should have had considerable
difficulty in " working to schedule," but, as it was, each
incoming wash saw us with an empty mending-shelf — a
consummation dear to the heart of all Linen Ladies.

Built over the radiators and filling all one side of the room
was the drying-hutch. Facetious visitors inevitably made
humorous allusions to hen-roosts, but when 50 per cent,
of the wash was returned in a state of clammy damp it had

WEAL AND WOE IN THE LINEN-ROOM 221

its use and saved us many a grey hair. Moreover, it was
inexpressibly useful as a refuge from these same visitors.
How often I have gone to cover on hearing the Medecin-Chef
or Mr. Reckitt in the Bandage-Room beginning the personally
conducted tour of some more or less distinguished person or
persons, knowing that the Linen-Room would be next on the
list and thoroughly determined to escape the ordeal.

To do the Linen-Room the justice it deserves would require
a book wholly devoted to its history. The anguished appeals
from the more corpulent members of the personnel for
the biggest bath-towels (bath-towels by courtesy and self-
deception ; in private life their social status would have been
that of the rough hand-towel) often wrung my heart, and it
would take a more vivid pen than mine to describe my
efforts to allot the shirts without stirring up strife and civil
war. Some society, in the fulness of its heart, presented us
with forty cotton shirts, twenty tastefully striped in red,
the remainder in blue, and these, from their first appearance
in the wards, created a demand that far exceeded the supply.
With all the goodwill in the world, I found it quite impossible
to clothe over two hundred men in forty shirts, so that
Saturday morning almost invariably found distracted nurses
dashing in and out of the Linen-Room with some despised
garment on their arm, begging an exchange to a more
aesthetic hue.

One little idiosyncrasy developed by our up-patients came
to be a severe trial. In spite of strenuous endeavours, the
stock of handkerchiefs never quite kept pace with the need
for them, and the resourceful poilu who found himself tem-
porarily without that necessary article, cut the Gordian knot
and the tail of his shirt at one and the same time. Righteous
wrath and bitter complaint proved equally futile, so, after a
short struggle, we resigned ourselves to the inevitable and
philosophically accepted Manx shirts as the natural corollary
of influenza colds.

Our staff's personal washing, within set limits, was done
by the hospital, and their weekly packets, counted by them-
selves, all passed through my hands, as did complaints of
articles missing or torn. Lost garments, I noticed, possessed
one curious characteristic in common — they were never worn
or of inferior quality ; they were always the best or the only
articles of their kind, and the loss quite irreparable. No
valueless object ever seemed to stray from the fold. In fact
procedure in this matter became a routine.

I set the ball rolling with a polite note to our blanchisseuse

222 V.R. 76

intimating that Miss So-and-so's best or only (as the case might
be) handkerchief had by some inadvertence failed to return
from the wash. The blanchisseuse would reply in a three-page
letter whose every capital shrugged a protesting shoulder,
and assure me that the Miss in question must assuredly
have deceived herself, and would doubtless find the missing
property in some unsearched pocket. An interchange of
notes on these lines would then continue for another fortnight ;
mine, under pressure from the indignant victim, becoming
harsher and more terse, hers betraying discouragement and
a growing lack of spirit. Then the ultimatum would go
forth, and next afternoon the washlady's bicycle would be
seen leaning fraternally against our front door. She was
desolated ; Mademoiselle would understand the difficulties of
her situation; she had traced the lost handkerchief and
regretted deeply to inform me that it had floated down-
stream (they always had), but, of course, if compensation?
And matters would adjust themselves till the next catastrophe.

During the coal shortage of the winter 1916-17, the laundry
question became painfully acute. The wards manfully cut
down their linen to the absolute minimum; we supplied a
modicum of coal from our own reserve, and our blanchisseuse
struggled on. Poor soul ! she did her best, but to both wash
and dry our Wednesday camion-load for return on Sunday
was a physical impossibility without the necessary heating.
Consequently, Madame and I were hard put to it, while
the shortage lasted, to get everything dried and out of
our way. The drying-hutch was quite unable to take more
than two-thirds of the sopping sheets, and each evening saw
the tables, chairs and even the step-ladder, festooned with the
remainder till they were sufficiently dry to fold and put
away.

Then coal reached so low an ebb that we had to seriously
consider the advisability of sending our washing to the
Military Laundry at Versailles and, armed with the monthly
averages (judiciously cut down for exhibition purposes), I
accompanied our Director and Gestionnaire on their visit
to the Governor of the Versailles Region. He proved a
friendly old gentleman, the possessor of vast accumulations
of time, all of which he placed unreservedly at our disposal.
Unfortunately, towards the end of an hour's pleasant chat,
he disclosed the damping fact that, whilst they would have
been delighted to undertake our laundry work, the laundry
itself was, alas, not yet equipped or opened. Our embassy
reeled beneath the shock, pulled itself together and firmly

WEAL AND WOE IN THE LINEN-ROOM 223

terminated the interview. Versailles disappeared behind us
in a cloud of dust.

" I should like to know," said the Director, deeply medita-
tive, " I should very much like to know, if that laundry has
yet been built." We never really found out, but next day
a kindly providence sent more coal and things continued on
their old basis.

Then Madame followed her husband, our quondam Chef,
to Paris and was satisfactorily replaced by a girl of eighteen
who lived in the village. Contrary to Madame's expecta-
tion, the Linen-Room continued to move tranquilly in
its appointed orbit, though the stock was beginning to
show signs of wear and tear. Badly torn sheets were more
frequent and had to be cut down to drawsheets; mending
became considerably heavier and the rag-bag assumed quite
important proportions, but otherwise nothing happened to
jolt us out of our settled rut. We still made the shrouds and
mortuary equipment and altered linen shirts to operating
coats for the doctors ; still mended socks and sewed on buttons
for the more helpless and tattered members of the staff and
had spasms of energy when fresh curtains were made for
bathrooms and cubicles and even once, in belated response
to a frenzied deputation from the village, fitted out the entire
hospital with dark curtains for its windows.

In many respects the Linen-Room could doubtless have
been improved, but it must always be remembered that it
was a product of the war and adapted to the require-
ments of a hospital, run under totally different circum-
stances to those obtaining in civil life, and with fewer
and simpler needs. It did its best, often under difficulties
and, if it occasionally showed a regrettable hiatus in the
matter of bath-towels and blankets, a kindly memory will
surely forget such lapses and remember only its friendly
willingness to supply the missing button or sew the gaping
seam.

OUT-PATIENTS

OUR first out-patient was certainly a model of patience.
Coming down to breakfast one morning, long before we were
a hospital, I saw a woman standing against the door of the
lower corridor. At lunch-time she was still there, and even
then it did not occur to me to inquire what she was waiting
for, but, late in the afternoon, one of the workmen told me
that there was a sick woman downstairs who had fainted.
I found this was the poor soul who had waited to be spoken
to since the early morning, standing and without food. When
she recovered she was examined and found to have tonsilitis.
I gently remonstrated and asked why she had not spoken,
and she explained that she had, for some previous illness,
attended the out-patient department of a large Paris
hospital, and her timid mien and speechlessness were the
outcome of that experience. I knew well the sad sight of
the mass of humanity collected at these clinics, possessing
itself in patience and pain, often in a purgatory of dread of
the ordeal to come.

At first we scarcely knew what to do with out-patients.
We were not allowed to hospitalise any civilian cases, how-
ever serious, although this stringent regulation had, on
occasion, to be broken in the cause of humanity. However,
after the mobilisation of the local doctor, there was no one
left in the village to care for the Ris population. We found
out later that a French doctor was on call and made an
occasional round, but his hands were apparently very full.

The situation, it will be seen, was a delicate one. In many
cases, of course, our services obviously did not matter, as,
whatever assistance was given, must be given gratuitously,
but it was undesirable that we should, except in emergency,
look after such as would be of pecuniary benefit to the local
practice.

My first meeting with the visiting doctor was under rather
embarrassing circumstances, on the doorstep at the home of
a little sick boy we had been to see. My memory of the
encounter is closely associated with the feeling I had in my

224

OUT-PATIENTS 225

youth when caught scrimping apples. We had not been told
that the boy was already being treated, and for the first few
minutes I do not know who was the more uncomfortable.
We sought to explain in broken French, when, to our surprise,
the doctor helped us out in perfect English and explained
that he quite understood and appreciated our attitude. A
consultation resulted from this chance meeting, with a
difference of opinion in which, it was candidly admitted, he
was right. He was a genial man, and a cordial friendship
sprang up. On his rare visits to the village he would always
stop for a greeting and a handshake.

Except for accidents and emergency cases, we treated the
out-patients in the morning, the doctor in charge endeavouring
to attend to their needs in the interval provided by the
hospital patients' meal, but this would not always be possible
and inroads were often made into his own lunch-time. He
was relieved of many dressings and care of minor ailments
by the nurses, and for this duty Miss Niven, who spoke
excellent French and had an inexhaustible fund of sympathy
and patience, was much in demand.

Operating days and the arrival of a fresh convoy would
naturally cause a little dislocation of the routine, and it would
not always be possible for these patients to be treated with
the same dispatch. But I never heard, under the most
trying circumstances, the least complaint. Much of the work
would be trivial and trying to one in charge of serious surgical
cases, with a morning's operations in prospect, but a cinder
in the eye assumes different proportions from the patient's
point of view, to one out of the eye.

A good knowledge of French was more necessary in the
medical than in the surgical cases of the war. In the latter
much could be learnt by observation and investigation, while
in the former information on which to base a diagnosis has
to be elicited by careful questioning. Grammar-book French
is often quite inadequate and many are the stumbling-
blocks. Pain can be traced to its cause, but, even in one's
mother tongue, it is difficult to lay by the heels that elusive
symptom, " I have such bad feelings, doctor." One has the
inclination to say, " Oh, please go away and come back with
a pain."

One outstanding feature, still prominent in my mind, is
the courage and cheerfulness of the French children who came
from time to time. The little horizon-blue cap that many
of them wore was a true symbol of the plucky little hearts
that beat below. Clearly I can see now one little chap with
Q

226 V.R. 76

a broken arm and mangled fingers who bit his lip till the
blood mingled freely with the tears dripping from his chin,
yet he never uttered a sound.

Quite early in our career attention to an accident brought
us a tangible reward. An elderly lady, nearing the allotted
span, broke her ankle badly, and it fell to the lot of Dr.
Yeates to attend her. The ankle did remarkably well, and
the patient was about and on a crutch her husband made for
her in a few weeks. At this time we had no piano in the
hospital, but in this lady's home there was an organ which
was like a lodestone to Dr. Yeates, whose soul hungered for
music, and grand opera at that. Our new friends were fond
of music, but I wonder what they really thought of rag-time,
when the doctor had been invited to satisfy his yearnings on
their organ.

The only place suitable for the treatment of these patients
was the salle de pansements on the ground floor. This was
inconvenient as it was required for dressing the ambulatory
patients of the large ground-floor ward, but no other accom-
modation was available, and the room was suitable, adequate
and well installed, being designed as a septic operating-room,
complete with operating-table, instruments and every facility
for sterilisation, and close to the pharmacy, where medica-
ments could be conveniently obtained.

Here the various little groups would gradually form and
later disperse, leaving perhaps one or two who needed to be
X-rayed. The number was always larger in the winter, when
colds, rheumatism and chilblains swelled the list of petty
miseries.

To this assembly were sometimes added (but always apart)
German prisoners, who were employed in agriculture on the
local farms. They would come with their escort, and their
strong, well-fed appearance was an affront to many other
poor souls who would not have been seeking medical aid had
they been half so well-fed, clothed and housed.

Some provision had to be made for visiting those cases
which were too sick to attend the hospital, and great difficulty
was often experienced in finding the patient from an inade-
quate address. It was necessary literally to hold on to the
messenger that he might guide the doctor and obviate an
unsuccessful search. Houses exist in Ris so modest and
retiring that they must be forgotten even by their owners.
I am of a sober temperament, but have failed on more than
one occasion to find such a secluded domicile even on a return
visit.

OUT-PATIENTS 227

In these houses the greatest difficulty was to get the
patient air. It was impossible to open a window without
the liveliest opposition. Every corner and crevice would be
stopped to exclude that mortal enemy courant d'air. This
was serious, as, in most cases, there was not the saving grace
of an open fire, and a closed stove consumed the much-needed
oxygen without leaving an escape for the poison gas of fuel
consumption. Deaths from this condition are not uncommon
in France, although never heard of in this country. On one
occasion, a French soldier came home on leave and, finding
some of his family sick and others semi-conscious, came for
our aid. They were all suffering from poison fumes from a
closed stove, and, but for his arrival, it is impossible to tell
the consequences.

When Dr. Desjardins came to us the bulk of this work fell
upon his shoulders, and later Lieutenant Aribert really
became the village doctor.

Our last patients, as our first, were out-patients. Morning
by morning the little group came and went, and we would
not have had it otherwise.

A RECOLLECTION

THE outbreak of the Great War found me in distant Oregon.
Though I knew but little of the warring nations, I was, like
most Americans, intensely affected and mentally placed
my sympathies where they have ever since been. I was pro-
British from the time the first cablegram found a place in the
daily papers.

I was pro-British for several reasons. First, I had lived
among English people in British India for six years and
had learned to appreciate their real worth ; I had an English
brother-in-law; I had lived nine months as a student in
Berlin and despised the Prussians and, finally, the rape of
Belgium was a crime against humanity that could not be
forgiven. Then, as the months went by, though the war
touched neither me nor mine, the brutality of the Germans,
the call for medical men and more medical men, quickened a
slumbering impulse to thrust myself into the conflict.

When, in 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Reckitt commissioned Dr.
Lewis Conner to select a medical staff and equipment for a
field hospital to operate in Belgium, I wrote Dr. Conner.
When my letter reached him, the staff was full and for the
first time I realised how great was my desire to serve, how
keen my disappointment.

Again the days went by as usual. I had settled down to
a normal life. Then came a cablegram to me from Mr.
Reckitt, " Come at once." I was to take a part in Germany's
defeat.

There were many notable passengers on that last voyage
of the Lusitania, among them Lord Rhondda (at that time
Mr. Thomas) and his daughter, Lady Mackworth. Madame
du Page, the wife of Belgium's Surgeon-General, was also on
board. So long as I live I shall never forget this lady's sad,
anxious face. She had just finished a tour of the United
States and was returning to her ravaged country with a
money contribution for the Belgian hospitals. Had she some
prophetic vision of the coming disaster? Her son she had
given to the war. Her husband was daily in the fighting-

A RECOLLECTION 229

line. She was lost with the sinking of the ship, but her
frail body reached friendly hands, I am told, and she found a
last resting-place in the soil of her beloved country, out in a
lonely and desolate stretch of sand dunes that Belgium still
held as her own.

Lady Mackworth I saw in the wild confusion that followed
the wounding of the ship and its great list to starboard. She
was alone, anxiously searching for her father in the crowd
that rushed here and there. She, with another woman and
myself, stood on the larboard side and, after watching the
ill-fated attempts to lower the lifeboats, decided to jump
into the sea rather than await the terrific rush and impact of
water that would follow as the ship plunged headlong to the
depths.

Lord Rhondda was returning from a munitions mission to
Canada and the United States. He was very grave, ate
sparingly and neither at table nor elsewhere was inclined to
casual conversation. That he was masterful and shrewd in
his own affairs and in those of his country, there could be no
doubt, but he met his match in a raw Irish- American in the
Queenstown Hotel on the night of the disaster.

It was the one humorous incident of that tragic day.
It was past midnight. The hostelry was full of the Lusitania's
ill and wounded, who were just finding the quiet and rest so
much needed. There were but three of us in the parlour,
Lord Rhondda, the Chief Surgeon and myself. I had said
good-night and was lying under a table rolled up in a blanket,
the other two were engaged in quiet talk, when in burst this
wild Irish-American. In some miraculous way he, his wife
and little child had been saved from death, though they had
all been swept into the sea. He was celebrating his own and
their escape. His pockets were full of whisky, his stomach
equally full. He was celebrating and, willy-nilly, the two
men must celebrate with him.

He burst into song and my companions added angry
remonstrance to their refusal to drink.

" Drink with me and I'll shut up."

A second curt refusal followed.

;t Then I'll raise hell ! " said the tipsy, hysterical man,
" for I still have my wife and baby."

Then he spied me under the table and dragged me out as
he would a sack.

" You too," he said, " drink ! "

" No ! " I replied.

And as he was about to let out a war-whoop, Lord Rhondda

230 V.R. 76

reached for the bottle, took his drink and the surgeon and I
followed in his wake.

There was one other bit of humour incident to the sinking
of the Lusitania that still makes me grin when memory
brings back those tragic days. That was the crestfallen
looks of the porters as they ran along the London railway
platform, ready to pounce upon the luggage of the travellers.
But it was the Lusitania special and of luggage there was not
a trace.

The reception of my sister-in-law and myself at our hotel
was no less comic. The night watchman at the door all
but refused us entrance, for we were a bedraggled pair of
vagabonds, dishevelled from a sleepless night and without
kit; I with a black eye and garments much the worse for
bad usage. The watchman stood perplexed. I looked at
my sister-in-law, with her little paper bundle under her arm,
and grinned at what I saw. She looked at me and my queer
make-up and smiled at the picture she beheld. Then we
mentioned the Lusitania and the doors flew wide and hot
baths, food and soft beds made us forget we were among
strangers.

For two days we waited our turn for passports at the
London office of the French Consulate. The crowd that
sought for passports was prodigious. We made no headway
till, with supposed American nerve, we evaded the porters
at the official entrance and reached the inner shrine of our
desire, only to be thrust out as interlopers who must await their
turn. We took our rebuke smilingly and resorted to some
new ruse that brought us once more before the French Consul.
It was a case of the Unjust Judge and the Importunate
Woman. We got what we wanted and were off to France.

The early days of Ris ! There was a building with four
walls and many rooms — there was a large park ; but one was
a desolation, the other a wilderness.

Dr. Mohan and I broke the first ice and, with cot and
luggage, found our way into a huge dark, dust-filled and
deserted building. Running water, gas or electricity there
was none. We lighted our lanterns and groped our way to
the one clean room that awaited us.

Over our heads were housed twenty or more poilus, detailed
for the duty of cleaning out this Augean stable. The great
house reverberated with the noise as they clattered up the
dark stairways to their quarters. They sang, they played

A RECOLLECTION 231

the violin, they quarrelled vociferously, long into the night,
and then came quiet, and the quiet and the darkness seemed
to be that of the tomb.

We were awakened in the morning by the chatter of these
same poilus as they came clattering down the stairs. Then
came the noise of hammer and saw as the carpenters took up
their task of reconstruction. We took breakfast at the village
inn and we sauntered forth to reconnoitre the building that
was to be transformed from a cloister to a war hospital.

The chapel still held a gilded figure of the Christ and some
paraphernalia of the departed monks. On the fourth floor
we found a spacious dormitory that first served the purpose
of an ample court for hand-ball and later on was turned into a
surgical ward. We wandered on and came upon the surprise
of the day, when we discovered two large rooms full of army
cots, bandages, dressings and other surgical materials. They
were none of ours, nor the French Government's, nor the
property of the monks. It appeared that Germany, in con-
templation of her entry into Paris, had selected this same
structure to serve as a hospital for her triumphant troops,
and had leased it through secret agents.

We left the house and wandered about in the deserted
park. Everywhere was a jungle of grass and weeds and
neglected trees and shrubbery and, tucked away in this
tangled growth quite near the building, was a large fish-
pond, into which had drained the kitchen refuse and the
sewage.

In spite of the noise and the dirt and lack of conveniences,
our fellow- officers, still chafing in Paris, envied us the privilege
of living on the ground and soon several others were knocking
at the gates of the Johnstone-Reckitt Military Hospital.
We swept and cleaned a larger room, dragged in the German
cots and bedding and bunked together, a happy, excited lot.

Nor were we entirely idle, though time often hung heavily
upon our hands during those very early days. The French
villager and soldier looked on in amazement as we tackled
the vans of equipment that stood in the railway yards, loaded
the contents on our trucks, unloaded them and stored them
in rooms that we had cleaned for the purpose.

We scrubbed and cleaned, we pushed and hustled the
carpenters and plumbers, we worked out a list of surgical
appliances to be purchased and of other necessities not
included in the Red Cross invoice.

Occasionally a group of us were off in an ambulance to
a neighbouring hospital or to some spot of interest. We

232 V.R. 76

closed our working day with hand-ball in the old dormitory.
We took our bath in the near-by Seine. What the monks
did for this same bath we could never determine. Cleanliness
with them could not have been essential to godliness.

The nights were spent in the common sleeping-room.
Lanterns and candles furnished illumination. Reading,
writing and cards were our diversions. Privacy there was
none, quiet there was none. It was X. who made us realise
that some little consideration was due the one from the
other. X. and Y. were both Canadians. They were sort of
chums. Neither of them could be called religious, yet both
invariably knelt at their cots upon retiring and said their
prayers, and it was Y. that X. cursed as he rose from his knees
and said, " Damn it all, Y. ! How the devil can I say my
prayers while you are making such a hell of a racket ? "

The red tape of officialdom hampered and hindered our
progress at every step. It seemed at times that the French
Government failed to appreciate, or was indifferent to, the
gift that was placed at its disposal. Our Chief of Staff,
Dr. Kennedy, was kept knocking at doors over trifling and
insignificant matters. Lady Johnstone and Mr. Reckitt were
constantly besieging the authorities on the same business
and always the staff was clamouring for action — action,
looking forward to the arrival of the first blesse.

That arrival soon became a jest. We would all be dead
before he came there, there was no such creature as a blesse
and, when G. bought an impossible American fly-trap, which
refused to entrap flies, bets were laid and odds placed on the
capture of the first fly as against the arrival of the first blesse.
Were we frivolous? Perhaps. But we had come for work
and the time dragged heavily.

There came an end to reconstruction. The hospital was
a finished product. We were ready for formal inspection,
equipped — and well equipped — for blesses, running into
hundreds.

I shall always remember that inspection day. It was
summer-time and a glorious day. The doors and windows
were wide open, operating-room was spotless, wards were
clean and sweet, ambulances were polished and manned
by driver and orderly and drawn up along the drive -way,
the members of the staff were stationed at their respective
posts of duty. We awaited the arrival of the supreme poten-
tate, the Surgeon-General and his Staff, bedecked in the full
insignia of their rank.

I am afraid that I disgraced my fellows on that eventful

A RECOLLECTION 283

day, for my bump of reverence is none too great nor had any
of us any military training and our salutes were but optra
bouffe.

As the great men passed us, my fellow- officers gave an
attempted military salute. I raised my cap and said, " Good
morning."

Our Chief of Staff was shocked. Later he remarked to me,
" F., that was one hell of a salute you made the General."

" Go to the devil, Kennedy," I replied. " The General
was grinning over your salute and thought you a lot of
children playing soldiers."

But Kennedy was right and I was wrong. My mental
processes just would not let me do it.

Such are some of my recollections of the early days of
" Ris." I never saw the hospital in its full swing of useful-
ness. That I played some small part in its career is a constant
satisfaction to me.

In early October I sailed from Bordeaux. It was mid-
night as the ship slipped out of the Gironde and into the bay.
Suddenly she came to a full stop and, among the passengers
who were excitedly discussing the meaning of the stop, I
recognised a survivor of the Lusitania, a little Russian Jew.
Memory carried me back to a scene in the Queenstown Hotel,
when this same Jew, with excited gestures, told a little group
of how he would enlist at once against the Boche, how he
would take a pistol in each hand and a sabre on his hip :
" Zip, I shoot the Boche with one pistol and, zip, I shoot the
Boche with the other pistol and, swish, I cut off the head of
another."

" And so you did not enlist after all," I said.

" No," he replied, " I take care of the women and children
and go to New York to make money for a hospital."

THE NIGHT SHIFT

THE nurse is the servant of the doctor and the orderly is
the servant of the nurse : he is, as it were, the scullery-maid
of the hospital and is liable to be treated accordingly. But
at Ris-Orangis some of the orderlies who belonged to a wider
life claimed a certain measure of independence, even in the
hospital itself. This claim was not always granted and on
occasions the volunteer orderlies, like the gentlemen rankers
of the army, were taught to know their place and keep it.

Four such orderlies were sitting in a bedroom of a village
inn in His one May evening in 1916 — a famous musician,
the Head of the Government School of Music in Calcutta;
a Finn boy, known for some obscure reason as Monsieur
Paul, who had spent much of his short life wandering from
country to country picking up languages; an older man,
half-Swiss, half-English; the fourth was Grand-pere, the
hospital name of the writer. We had been supping on bread
and cheese and beer, whilst the musician played on his violin
scraps of Bach and of Cesar Franck.

It was time for the night staff to go on duty. A batch of
wounded men, grands blesses, had come into the hospital
during the afternoon, after slowly jogging across France in
an ambulance train. They had, no doubt, been cleaned up
and put to bed by the day staff : their wounds may have
been dressed, but they would come into the hands of the night
shift suffering from exhaustion, from fever and hysteria. A
heavy night's work was to be expected.

We went out into the sunny street, where the Swiss who
was off duty left us, walked through the great gate and up the
little hill on which the hospital stood. Then we scattered
to meet our nurses in the various wards and to receive any
special instructions from the head night orderly, an old sailor
in charge of the comparatively convalescent men on the top
floor.

Of the night nurses, three belonged to our set, " the
Europeans," as we afterwards came to be somewhat de-
risively called, in distinction from the American group. On
the ground floor, working with the violinist, was the little

234

THE NIGHT SHIFT 235

Dutch nurse, nicknamed " Muggins." Another Dutch nurse
was on the top floor, a tall, distinguished figure whose wonder-
ful black, glossy hair must have been an inheritance from some
Spanish ancestor of the time when Holland was under the
rule of Spain. A Russian worked with the Finn and, on the
second floor, with Grand-pere was " Grannie," an English-
woman.

For the first two hours we orderlies devoted ourselves to
the routine work — getting everything in order for the night,
helping the nurses with bandaging, doing what we could to
bring comfort to the men and soothe them to sleep, and
carrying through many unclean and hideous duties. As we
worked we took every opportunity of chatting to our old
friends and making new acquaintances.

I remember — somewhat dimly — some of my special
patients :

There was a fat, good-natured peasant farmer — a Zouave :
both his hands were badly hurt and he had some body
wounds — nothing very serious. He suffered from a sort of
lethargy : he lay on his back for days never moving, and
wanted everything done for him. But one day he craved a
cigarette and as there was no one near he moved and reached
out his hand, got it and lit it for himself. After that we
badgered and bullied him into activity.

Then there was " Scottie," so-called because he had, before
the war, been a dealer in fruit and vegetables between France
and Scotland, and spoke a little English with a strong Scotch
accent. Poor " Scottie," he had been twice badly wounded,
this time through the lungs. At last, when he was better, I
congratulated him. " I am only being cured to be killed,"
was his grim reply.

One night I found a new patient, who addressed me in sharp,
Cockney English. He was a chauffeur who had lived most
of his life in England, but had come back to France to
fight. Life came easily to him.

" I don't let things bother me," he would say as he settled
himself to sleep.

He was overwhelmingly polite :

14 If it would not inconvenience you at all, Orderly," he
would say, "I should be obliged if you would give me a
little water to drink."

He was extraordinarily helpful with the other men,
explaining their needs and acting as an interpreter.

I only remember one man who definitely said he wanted to
be cured in order to fight again.

236 V.R. 76

He was a sturdy, bright boy — a socialist, I suspect, and a
free-thinker, in contrast to most of the men, who were
Catholics — a patriot he proudly called himself. A chunk
of flesh had been blown out of his leg and, at times, he
suffered greatly, but he bore it with extraordinary self-
control. He was particularly fond of airing his English
vocabulary, limited to " Sank-you " and " Av a drink."

" Do you think I shall be permanently disabled ? " the
new patients would ask, and if the doctor thought not, they
would say, " How long, Orderly, do you think my wounds
will keep me here ? " It must not be supposed that these
men were not courageous. I am certain they were most
brave, and went back gaily enough when the time came, but
they had just come out of a hell of actual fighting and had
no delusions about war.

By ten o'clock the orderly should have finished his routine
work, lights were put out, hand lanterns lit, the nurse settled
into one comfortable chair, the orderly into another. Then,
as a rule, nurse or orderly — but never both — tried to get a
couple of hours' sleep in the passage, broken, of course, by
calls from the wards.

This was the quiet time of the night, interrupted perhaps
by a visitor from one of the other floors with a request for
morphia or for help in dealing with some special case, or a
nurse from the day shift would drop in for a few minutes'
chat.

I remember such a visitor.

" Say, Orderly," she began, " they tell me that you know
your way about Europe. Now I have just come over from
New York, I have never travelled before and I want to see
the world : how far is it to Berlin ? "

I told her. She paused and then continued : " I'm over
with a six months' contract so as to be here for the end of the
war, and if there's going to be a triumphal entry into Berlin,
I want to be there : how do you think I can fix it up ? ':

I had to tell her that I hardly thought the road to Berlin
would be open by the time her contract had expired.
" Well, I am disappointed," was her reply. " I've brought
all my best clothes, I thought they would come in, but now,
maybe, I shall never wear them."

Sometimes the tall Dutch nurse would come down to see
" Grannie." She had many stories to tell. Before the war
she had wandered about Europe " mothering " a famous
artiste. Then when the war broke out she had volunteered
with the Austrian army, whose beautiful Red Cross uniform

THE NIGHT SHIFT 237

she constantly wore, and had nursed Bulgarians, Russians,
Czechs and other Slavonic-speaking people indiscriminately,
whether of the Allies or of the enemy.

So the night wore on — sleep or talk being interrupted by
cries of " Infirmier I " from the ward or the moans of someone in
great pain. The orderly would then take his lantern and go
into the darkened ward. If the trouble was more than he
could deal with, he called the nurse and, in serious difficulty,
the doctor was sent for. It was ugly and nerve-racking
work for an amateur, but " Grannie " was wonderful with the
men and saved, I am confident, many lives.

At midnight the nurses went down to supper in the little
cuisine de diete and, when they came back, it was the orderlies'
turn. This supper-party was a great relief. The old sailor
was full of talk and the musician was a real raconteur. Marie,
the cook, was always gay and amusing and when supper was
over one of us had to go out into the fresh air and escort her
to her home in the village.

After supper we could only pray that the wounded would
sleep ; it was a hard time if they did not.

Towards five o'clock, when a great depression rested on us,
" Grannie " would rise to the occasion, waking everyone up
with a popular melody, of which I remember only the first
line : " It's nice to get up in the morning."

One's day duties then began. Basins were served out and
forty patients had to wash hands and face and clean their
teeth. Those who were not able to do this themselves had
to be washed by nurse or orderly. This work had to be
finished and the basins put away by seven o'clock, when
all had to be in order for the day shift, who at that hour
served breakfast.

Then at last the night shift went off duty to breakfast
in the orderlies' and nurses' rooms and read the morning
papers.

I remember vividly the morning following the arrival of
that particular consignment from Verdun. I stood at the
Gate-House talking to the musician. A little figure was
coming down the main road. An old mackintosh covered
the nurse's dress, a large black round leather hat, such as
peasant girls sometimes wear in France, set on the back of
her head, formed a background to a rosy, childlike face. It
was the little Dutch nurse. Her shoulders were hunched up,
her hands were thrust in her pockets, she walked with a roll.
The pose caught the eye and we thought at once of the old
Dutch navigators of the days when Holland was a nation of

238 V.R. 76

explorers. A moment later I saw, running down the side
path, the slight, boyish figure of the Finn, in a dirty brown
suit.

" What are you going to do, Muggins ? " he shouted to the
Dutch girl.

;< We will be sun- worshippers," she said.

" Come to the river and wash off the slime of the hospital :
when that is done we will talk philosophy : I am studying
Plato."

Half-an-hour later, Grand-pere was sitting amongst the
bushes on the banks of the Seine, clad in the lightest of bath-
ing costumes. The boy and the girl were swimming on the
far side of the river, battling against the strong stream like a
couple of water-rats. For a full quarter of an hour they swam,
until they reached a point where the river made a bend.
Then they turned and, taking full advantage of the current,
came at a great pace across the stream. They hit the bank
just above the point where Grand-pere was sitting and
clambered out.

" We have taken the gift of the gods," said the girl, " and
for an hour, at least, have forgotten the sick, the dying and
the dead ! "

A FRAGMENT

LOOKING back to the earliest days of the Ris Hospital —
to the days when, in fact, it did not exist except as an empty
building without fittings or conveniences of any description
—what clings to my memory most vividly is the wonderful
foresight and tenacity of purpose of its founders. I speak
more particularly of H. J. R., as he was affectionately called,
as it was with him that I came in contact almost entirely.

It may be thought that, given ample funds and the deter-
mination to spend them freely in the good cause, the battle
was more than half won. Nothing could be farther from
the truth. Without the qualities of courage, patience and
good temper all else would have been as dust in the balance.
Fortunately these qualities were forthcoming in the founders
of the hospital.

When I went out with the first contingent in 1915 the
hospital building had been selected — the doctors and nurses,
the ambulances and their drivers and orderlies were all
ready — everything almost, you will say, necessary to a
hospital, and yet the work was hardly begun. War and
Peace are very different and no arguments from the one are
of any value in the other. Almost everything required to
fit out the building to make it suitable for an up-to-date
hospital could only be obtained through or with the consent
of the French Government. It is easy to imagine what that
means in the case of any government during war-time —
interviews, promises, difficulties and yet more promises until
the heart must have grown sick. It seemed at times almost
as though the Government did not want to be given a fully-
equipped hospital — as though they were suspicious of some
sinister design in the givers and said, like the ancients :
"Timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes " — We are afraid of these
people, who want to give us something for nothing !

More than once in those weary days I thought that had I
been in charge I should have retorted that if the Government
really did not want the hospital I would see whether the
equipment could not be put to good use elsewhere. But that

239

240 V.R. 76

is where patience came in and where I should have been
wrong and where H. J. R. was right. Those were trying
times, but to see H. J. R. going about in his quiet way, you
might have thought he had not a care in the world. Knowing
what I did, had I been asked in those days to award the Palm
of Merit for Patience, I think my verdict would have been :

1st Prize . . . . H. J. R.
Honourable Mention . Job.

PART III

QUELQUES
SILHOUETTES

"ON NE PASSE PAS!"

QUELQUES SILHOUETTES

EN octobre 1918, au lendemain du jour ou PHopital
militaire V.R. 76 eut definitivement ferme ses portes, je
m'etais dit, en jetant un coup d'oeil d'ensemble sur les deux
annees passees a Ris, qu'il serait vraiment regrettable de
voir tomber dans Poubli les travaux scientifiques, disons
mieux, less auvetages de vies humaines, accomplis par des
maitres en 1'art de guerir venus d'Angleterre et d'Amerique
pour soigner nos soldats de France. J 'avals cru de mon
devoir de travailler a reunir les elements necessaires a cette
publication d'ensemble, mais je dus y renoncer, m'etant
bute a Phumilite des uns, a Pindifference des autres et ne
possedant pas le detail de ce qui avait etc fait avant mon
arrivee.

Aujourd'hui Mr. Reckitt me demande de joindre un mot
personnel a 1'ouvrage qu'il va faire paraitre sur cet hopital
qui fut pour une grande part son oeuvre, non seulement par
1'appui materiel qu'il apporta afin d'en permettre le fonctionne-
ment, mais par Phabilete et le devouement avec lesquels il
en assuma la direction effective. Je le remercie de 1'honneur
qu'il me fait et je vais essay er d'apprecier en quelques mots
1'oeuvre accomplie sans m'arreter aux details de Finstallation
qui ne seraient sans doute qu'une redite.

Lorsque la Direction du Service de Sante du Gouvernement
militaire de Paris mit a la disposition de Phonorable Lady
Johnstone et de Mr. Harold Reckitt les batiments de 1'ancien
college des Pretres de Stanislas a Ris-Orangis, les immeubles
etaient inoccupes depuis douze annees. II fallut remettre
tout a neuf et m£me transformer une partie des locaux. Et
cette transformation se fit si vite et si bien que trois mois
apres 1'arrivee du personnel anglais, le 29 septembre 1915,
1'hopital recevait ses premiers blesses.

Et depuis cette date jusqu'au ler octobre 1918, c'est-a-dire
pendant trois annees, ce fut une ruche bourdonnante, sans
cesse en activite, ce fut 1'hopital chirurgical modele, hopital
de lfere categoric A, rayonnant sur toute une region, recevant

243

244 V.R. 76

ses blesses directement de la ligne de feu par trains sanitaires,
gardant les plus gravement atteints et repartissant les autres
sur les hopitaux bene voles voisins.

Ne croyez pas cependant que ce fut chose facile que
d'installer un hopital pour grands blesses dans le cadre et
avec les ressources de Ris, ayant eu certes 1'appui bienveillant
de PAutorite militaire mais presque uniquement un appui
moral, laissant a la charge des Fondateurs et a leur initiative
toute P organisation. La Municipalite, a la tete de laquelle
se trouvait alors un Administrateur habile et devoue, M.
Barreau, et la population de Ris tout entiere s'efforcerent
dans la mesure de leurs ressources de faciliter la tache des
organisateurs et, plus tard, ayant adopte comme citoyens de
leur ville ces etrangers au co2ur genereux qui soignaient nos
soldats fran9ais avec tant de devouement, les habitants les
associerent peu a peu a leur vie quotidienne, les saluant
respectueusement au passage et les accueillant chez eux
comme de vrais amis.

J'aurais voulu pouvoir dire tout le bien fait par les genereux
Fondateurs de cet hopital, mais je redoute leur censure.
Qu'ils me permettent cependant de tracer d'eux quelques
breves silhouettes esquissees sur place et retrouvees au hasard
parmi mes souvenirs.

Ce jour-la, Lady Johnstone nous est revenue; la nouvelle
n'a pas tarde a se repandre dans tout Phopital et les anciens
blesses qui la connaissent s'empressent d'en informer les
nouveaux. Dans chaque salle les poilus attendent. . . .
La voila qui entre, revetue du simple costume d'infirmiere
anglaise avec un long voile blanc qui allonge encore sa
silhouette, sans rien lui enlever de sa haute distinction.
Dans cette salle de blesses, la voila chez elle; elle va de Pun
a Pautre, causant familierement dans un fran£ais tres pur,
offrant des cigarettes, s'informant des circonstances dans
lesquelles ohacun a ete blesse, se melant aux conversations et
aux jeux. Et parce que, penchee sur un pauvre diable
mortellement frappe qui geint lament ablement, elle n'arrive
pas a faire taire sa plainte par la chanson berceuse de ses mots
d'espoir, soudain elle se redresse et va vers le chirurgien de
la salle, Poeil interrogateur et le regard presque mechant
comme si, douloureusement froissee de n'avoir pu endormir
sa souffrance, elle en voulait au docteur de son impuissance
a guerir.

Et ce simple trait montre mieux qu'un long recit combien

QUELQUES SILHOUETTES 245

Lady Johnstone aimait nos blesses et combien le personnel,
suivant ses exemples, les soignait et les dorlotait.

Sur Mr. Reckitt, mes souvenirs personnels sont encore
plus nombreux. Pendant deux annees, je me suis appuye
sur lui pour assurer la bonne marche de Phopital en evitant
tout froissement entre le personnel anglais, le personnel
americain et le personnel frangais, entre la Direction du
Service de Sante et cette administration autonome. Et si
j'y ai reussi, je le dois pour beaucoup a la largeur de vues de
notre Directeur. Permettez-moi ces deux croquis :

Je viens, ce matin-la, d'apprendre que Mr. Reckitt aurait
decide le renvoi d'une veilleuse de nuit que j'avais moi-meme

choisie dans la population de Ris, Mme R . Le motif

invoque serait une discussion avec une infirmiere anglaise.

J'ai pu apprecier le devouement de Mme R pour nos

blesses, j'ai pour elle une grande estime. Cette histoire me
contrarie, aussi j 'arrive assez maussade. Je suis accueilli
par Mr. Reckitt le sourire aux levres. II m'approche un
fauteuil, me tend une cigarette, puis reprenant place au
bureau directorial, lentement, froidement, cherchant un peu
ses mots, il m'expose le drame de la nuit : une discussion

houleuse a eu lieu entre Miss K et Mme R , des

propos insultants et des menaces ont ete proferes par la
veilleuse de nuit ; il faut une sanction et ce ne peut etre que
Pexclusion de ma protegee. Et Mr. Reckitt attend ma
reponse. Je me contente d'exposer ce qu'est pour nos blesses

Mme R ; je dis son devouement de toutes les minutes,

ses soins intelligent s et son abnegation. Et comme a cet
instant entre F infirmiere anglaise, venue sans doute pour
obtenir la tete de son adversaire :

" Miss K ," dit Mr. Reckitt avec un calme parfait,

" Mme R— - restera dans ses fonctions, mais je demanderai
a Plnfirmiere-Major de vous placer a un autre etage."

Mon proces — etait gagne. J'avais plaide devouement a
nos blesses.

Et voici un second croquis :

II y a ce soir de Pagitation dans Pair : nous avons recu
une depeche de la Direction du Service de Sante annon9ant
Parrivee en gare de Villeneuve-St- Georges, a minuit 15, d'un
train sanitaire renfermant 180 grands blesses. En hate, les
huit ambulances sont alignees dans la cour et chargees de

246 V.R. 76

brancards, de couvertures et d'oreillers; les reservoirs sont
remplis, les moteurs sont prets a ronfler, les phares prets a
s'allumer. La Societe des Brancardiers Civils a ete prevenue.
La cuisine a prepare des brocs geants de cafe et de lait pour
rechauffer les blesses a leur descente du train. Les infirmiers
anglais et les infirmiers frangais se partagent la besogne.
Dans la salle de sterilisation les autoclaves sont garnis et
la salle d'operations est surchauffee. Tout le monde va,
vient, s'empresse et s'agite. Seul, notre Directeur, la pipe
a la bouche, conserve tout son calme et donne froidement des
ordres. Puis, apres s'etre assure que tout est pret, le voila
qui prend place, comme chaque soir, a sa table de bridge.
La chance ne le favorise pas ; il perd sans arret, et confiant
tou jours dans son etoile, le voila engage dans un " trois
pique " aventureux, quand Mr. Bower, le chef ambulancier,
vient annoncer 1'arrivee des premiers blesses. Aussitot le jeu
est arret6 et notre Directeur descend en hate a la salle
d'admission.

Le convoi qui nous arrive ce soir-la est fait de grands
blesses tres fatigues par la route et n'ayant pas sejourne dans
les ambulances. Leurs vetements, leurs mains et leurs figures
sont souilles de boue. Les infirmieres et les infirmiers
s'empressent autour d'eux mais ne sont pas en nombre; la
toilette est longue. Alors notre Directeur releve ses manches
et se transforme en infirmier ; le voila savonnant conscienci-
eusement les pieds d'un grand diable de zouave qui lui
sourit fort satisfait. Sa toilette finie, il aide au pansement
fait par le chirurgien et bientot, prenant une des hampes du
brancard, il gravit les trois etages, n'abandonnant son
precieux fardeau qu'apres Favoir vu confortablement installe
dans un bon lit. Bientot, grace a la collaboration de tous, le
travail s'acheve. Tous les blesses sont maintenant laves
des pieds a la tete, revetus de linge blanc, leurs pansements
refaits; bien couches, apres avoir regu un repas leger, ils
s'endorment heureux. Et tandis qu'interrogeant ma montre,
je constate qu'il est plus de trois heures du matin, je me sens
saisi par le bras : c'est. . . . Mr. Reckitt qui veut terminer
son " trois pique." Seul parmi les joueurs, il ne sent pas la
fatigue. . . .

J'aurais voulu pouvoir fixer de meme par un trait le
souvenir que j'ai des autres administrateurs : de Mr. Fraser,
de Mr. Cobb, trop vite parti, de Mr. Middleweek, etc., mais
la place me manque. Et j 'arrive au Corps Medical, aux
chirurgiens traitants, de nationalite americaine. A mon

QUELQUES SILHOUETTES 247

arrivee, le Medecin-Chef etait le Docteur Blake, chirurgien
renomme" de New- York, specialise surtout dans les fractures
et dans la greffe osseuse, inventeur d'un appareil de suspension
des plus ingenieux, appareil que devaient adopter tardivement
tous les hopitaux militaires fran£ais.

Aide par un radiographe eminent, Mr. Harold Gage qui
avait amenage a grand frais une installation complete de
radiographie et de radioscopie, par un savant bacteriologiste,
le Docteur K. Taylor, qui se livrait dans ses laboratoires &
des recherches suivies sur les diverses infections des plaies,
le docteur Blake avait encore a ses cotes quatre chirurgiens
traitants. Aussi, sous sa haute direction, 1'hopital militaire
V.R. 76 devint un veritable centre chirurgical ou le Service
de Sante envoyait de preference les fractures graves avec
larges pertes de substance, n'ignorant pas que c'etait de ce
milieu scientifique qu'etait parti le premier cri d'alarme
contre Fabus des amputations. Le Docteur Blake fut toujours
un chirurgien conservateur et nous avons pu juger par nous-
memes de Pefficacite de sa methode de greffe osseuse, a 1'heure
meme ou, dans certains hopitaux de Paris, d'autres chirurgiens
abandonnaient la greffe devant les pietres resultats obtenus.

Avec sa taille de geant et son port d'empereur remain,
le Docteur Blake en imposait a nos poilus, mais le regard qui
allait a eux etait d'une si cordiale douceur qu'ils avaient vite
fait de se familiariser et d'apprecier tel qu'il etait ce cceur
d'elite.

S'informant des moindres details, s'interessant a tous ses
malades et les connaissant tous, vivant au milieu d'eux, il
parachevait encore son oeuvre en guidant a travers les salles
Madame Blake, sa femme, qui distribuait a profusion cadeaux
et friandises.

Et quand, revant d'avoir un hopital a lui dans Paris meme,
le Docteur Blake quitta 1'hopital V.R. 76 pour fonder Fhopital
de la rue Piccini ce fut, parmi nos blesses, un vrai desespoir.

Le 15 aout 1917, le Lieutenant-Colonel William Keller,
chirurgien de FArmee americaine, lui succeda. Operateur
des plus habiles, le Docteur Keller eut Foceasion a plusieurs
reprises de montrer ce dont il etait capable en procedant avec
un plein succes a des interventions considerees par d'autres
chirurgiens comme impossibles. Esprit methodique et
organisateur, ayant 1'habitude du commandement, le Docteur
Keller forma a son ecole d'habiles chirurgiens comme Case et
Valdes, et sut imprimer au personnel infirmier une emulation
salutaire.

Malheureusement, en mars 1918, il dut partir, le Gouverne-

248 V.R. 76

ment americain 1'ayant designe pour prendre la direction du
Service de Sante dans la zone des operations. Le Comman-
dant-Major Penhallow, qui lui succeda, arrivait de Londres
ou il etait Medecin-Chef d'un hopital americain. Chirurgien
tres repute de Boston, auteur de remarquables ouvrages sur
la chirurgie moderne, il assura avec une rare competence la
tache de Chirurgien-en-Chef jusqu'a la fermeture de 1'hdpital.

De Pceuvre de ces chirurgiens, j'aurais voulu detacher et
publier les plus remarquables interventions. Certaines obser-
vations auraient ete des documents precieux pour 1'etude
complete de la Chirurgie au cours de la guerre. Je n'ai pu
reunir les renseignements necessaires mais je veux esperer
qu'ils le seront un jour.

Et, apres avoir assiste impuissant au tragique desordre
du Service de Sante en 1914-1915, apres avoir, pendant
deux ans, alors que j'etais Medecin-Chef de train sanitaire,
visite dans tous pays des ambulances et des hopitaux, je
fus heureux de trouver enfin a Ris-Orangis un hopital-modele,
tel que je 1'avais reve. Plus de trois mille grands blesses
fran5ais en ont profite; ceux-la n'oublieront pas, je le sais,
les soins qu'ils ont re9us, mais c'est la France entiere qui
devrait savoir ce qu'elle doit aux genereux Fondateurs et
aux eminents chirurgiens de 1'hopital militaire V.R. 76.
Puissent ces quelques notes d'un temoin impartial arracher
a Poubli cette ceuvre de bien !

DOCTEUR A. ARIBERT DE JAX,
Officier Gestionnaire a 1'Hopital Mre V.R. 76.

«LA RECONNAISSANCE DE RIS "

Au mois d'Aout 1916, Mademoiselle Galland et Made-
moiselle Rossignol, ayant constate avec regret que les soldats
decedes a 1'Hopital Johnstone-Reckitt etaient inhumes,
ayant uniquement sur leur cercueil les couronnes offertes
par les blesses en traitement ou par le personnel de Phopital,
deciderent d'associer la population de Ris a cette marque de
reconnaissance en deposant sur leur cercueil une " palme
souvenir." Pour reunir les fonds necessaires elles firent une
quete a Tissue de chaque enterrement.

Un an plus tard, devant les resultats obtenus, encouragees
et aidees par le docteur Aribert qui, des son arrivee en
Septembre 1916, s'etait empresse, avec 1'appui de la Direction
de 1'Hopital et de la Municipalite, d'edifier au cimetiere des
tombes qui soient dignes de nos soldats et avait continue a
les entretenir et a les parer de fleurs, Mademoiselle Galland
et Mademoiselle Rossignol deciderent de fonder " 1'CEuvre
de la Reconnaissance de Ris."

Toutes les jeunes filles accepterent d'en faire partie et la
presidence en fut donnee a Monsieur Barreau, Maire de la
Commune. Des statuts furent elabores et Po2uvre fut
autorisee par Arrete Ministeriel en date du ler Juin 1917.

Les buts de 1'ceuvre sont :

Honorer la memoire des Soldats morts pour leur Patrie.

Apporter un appui moral a leur Families.

Edifier et entretenir leur tombes dans le cimetiere de Ris.

Cette oeuvre compte aujourd'hui plus de trois cent membres,
et ces jeunes filles continuent a realiser avec zele et devoue-
ment le but genereux que leur cceur de frangaises leur avait
inspire*.

A. A. de J.

249

SOCIETE DES BRANCARDIERS CIVILS
VOLONTAIRES

(SECTION DE RIS-ORANGIS)

FONDEE le deux Juin 1917 par le docteur A. Aribert pour
aider au transport et a Fevacuation des blesses, et plus
specialement au dechargement des trains sanitaires en gare
de Villeneuve-Triage, la Societe des Brancardiers Civils
Volontaires fut faite d'hommes de bonne volonte qui, degages
par leur age ou leur blessures, de toute obligation militaire,
avaient offert gracieusement leur concours.

Tres assidus aux conferences et aux exercices pratiques qui
leur furent faits par leur fondateur, ces brancardiers ne
tarderent pas a etre parfaitement instruits et fonctionnerent
regulierement pendant un an, passant des nuits entieres en
gare de Villeneuve a decharger des trains sanitaires et a
charger les blesses dans les voitures d'ambulances qui devaient
les transporter ensuite dans les hopitaux voisins et principale-
ment a 1'Hopital V.R. 76. Cette creation rendit de grands
services a nos blesses, ayant etc cree a une heure oti le nombre
des infirmiers militaries laisses a la disposition des hopitaux
de Pinte'rieur etait fort reduit.

Nous tenons a publier les noms de ces citoyens devoues :

Fondateur-Organisateur : M. le docteur ARIBERT. Officier
Gestionnaire a 1'Hopital JOHNSTONE-RECKITT, V.R. 76.

ComiU de Direction.

President : M. Paul Cherrier.
Tresorier : M. Gustave Guery.
Secretaire : M. Louis Gallas.

Membres : M. Charles Courbet, Leon Mangin, Louis
Senechal.
250

BRANCARDIERS CIVILS VOLONTAIRES 251

Brancardiers.

MM. Bergerot.
Boudinand.
Boyer.
Buffet.
Chat on.
Chauroux.
Chevalier, L.
Daubreuil.
Davio.

Delavaller, A.
Detenerman.
Diard.
Dieterle.
Eyboulet.
Eyer.
Finardi.
Forest.

MM. Garson.

Ganquier, R.

Gingreaud.

Guernier.

Guiot, M.

Imbert, L.

Labb6e.

Lefevre.

Morel.

Naviere.

Poussaint, H.

Rogier, F.

Trahet.

Valcke.

Vail, H.

Vaumorin.

A. A. de J.

'

SILHOUETTES

(Translation)

IN October 1918, on the day following that on which
Hopital Militaire V.R. 76 finally closed its doors, I said to
myself as I looked back over the two years passed at Ris,
that it would be truly a pity if the scientific work were for-
gotten, the rescue of human life accomplished by those
masters in the art of healing who came from England and
America to care for the soldiers of France. I thought it
my duty to collect the necessary material for a record of
this work, but I was obliged to give up the project, hindered
by the humility of some, the indifference of others and by
lack of the details of what was done before my arrival at
Ris.

To-day, Mr. Reckitt asks me to add a personal note to
the history of the hospital which was, to a great extent,
his work, not only on account of the material support which
made its activity possible, but because of the skill and devo-
tion he expended to make the administration effective. I
am grateful for the honour he does me and I shall try in a
few words to express my appreciation without occupying
myself with details which would doubtless be mere repetition.

When the Administration of the Service de Sante of the
Military Department in Paris placed the old college of the
Priests of Stanislas at Ris-Orangis at the disposal of the
Hon. Lady Johnstone and of Mr. Harold Reckitt, the build-
ings had been unoccupied for twelve years. It was necessary
to put everything in order and even to alter part of the edifice.
The alterations were done so quickly and so well that on
September 29, 1915, three months after the arrival of the
English personnel, the hospital received its first wounded.

From that date to October 1, 1918, that is to say, for three
years, it was a buzzing hive, always in full activity, a model
surgical hospital, a hospital " A " of the first category,
spreading its benefits over a whole district, receiving its
wounded by hospital train direct from the firing line, keeping

262

SILHOUETTES 253

the most severely injured and redistributing the others
among the neighbouring voluntary hospitals.

Let no one think that it was an easy matter to instal a
hospital for grands blesses of the standing and resources of
Ris, a hospital enjoying, indeed, the sympathetic support of
the military authorities, but a support more moral than
practical, leaving to the Founders all the organisation and
initiative. The Municipality of Ris, presided over at that
time by a clever and devoted Mayor, M. Barreau, as well
as the whole population of the town, endeavoured, according
to their powers, to help the organisers in their task. Later
on, adopting as citizens of their town these generous-hearted
strangers who tended our French soldiers with so much
devotion, the townsfolk gradually adopted them as part of
their daily life, greeting them respectfully when they met
and welcoming them to their homes as real friends.

I should have liked to have set down all the good done
by the generous Founders of the hospital, but I fear their
censure. Will they permit me to reproduce one or two
silhouettes drawn on the spot and chosen at random from
among my memories?

To-day, Lady Johnstone has come back to us; the news
spreads quickly through the hospital and the old blesses who
know her make haste to tell the new arrivals. In each ward
the poilus wait. . . .

She enters, dressed in the simple costume of an English
nurse with a long white veil which lengthens her silhouette
without detracting from its distinction. In this ward, filled
with wounded, she is at home; she goes from one to the
other, talking in very pure French, offering cigarettes, asking
like a friend about the circumstances in which each was
wounded, mingling in their talk and their games. Then,
bending over a poor devil, hit mortally, unable to silence his
moans by her soothing words of hope, she suddenly draws
herself up and goes towards the ward-surgeon, a question in
her eye, her glance almost hostile as though, saddened and
vexed at not being able to lull the soldier's pain, she blamed
the doctor for his powerlessness to cure.

This simple scene shows better than a long narrative
how Lady Johnstone loved our wounded and how the staff,
following her example, petted and cared for them.

My personal recollections of Mr. Reckitt are even more
numerous. For two years I depended on him to ensure the

254 V.R. 76

smooth running of the hospital and eliminate all friction
between the English, French and American personnel,
between the authorities of the Service de Sante and the
hospital administration. If my work was a success, I owed
it largely to our Director's breadth of vision.

Permit me to trace these two sketches.

I have just heard this morning that Mr. Reckitt has decided

to remove a night-nurse, Mme. R , whom I chose myself

from the ladies of Ris. The reason given is a dispute with

an English nurse. I appreciate the devotion of Mme R

towards our wounded, I esteem her highly. The affair annoys
me. I arrive in a bad humour. I am received by Mr.
Reckitt, a smile on his lips. He pushes an armchair towards
me, hands me a cigarette, then, resuming his seat at the
Administrator's desk, slowly, coldly, choosing his words a
little, he recounts to me the drama of the night. A stormy

discussion took place between Miss K and Mme. R ;

the night-nurse used insulting expressions and threats; an
example must be made and my protegee will be dismissed.

Mr. Reckitt awaits my reply. I content myself with

pointing out how much Mme. R does for our wounded ;

I speak of her untiring devotion, her intelligent care, her
self-denial. And at this moment the English nurse enters,
come doubtless to demand the head of her enemy.

" Miss K ," says Mr. Reckitt, with perfect calm,

" Mme. R will retain her duties, but I will ask the Matron

to put you on another floor."

My suit was gained. I had pleaded devotion to our
wounded.

Here is another sketch :

There is a stir in the air this evening ; we have received a
telegram from the Direction of the Service de Sante, an-
nouncing the arrival of a hospital train with one hundred
and eighty grands blesses at the station of Villeneuve St.
Georges at a quarter past twelve, midnight. Quickly the
eight ambulances are drawn up in the courtyard and filled
with stretchers, blankets and pillows ; the reservoirs are
filled, the engines are ready to snort, the lamps are ready
to be lighted.

The Society of Civilian Stretcher-bearers has been notified.

The kitchen has prepared huge pitchers of coffee and
milk to warm the wounded when they are lifted from the
train. The English nurses and the French orderlies are on
duty. In the sterilising-room the autoclaves are prepared and
the operating-room is heated. Everybody comes, goes, hurries

SILHOUETTES 255

excitedly. Our Director alone, his pipe between his lips,
remains calm and gives his orders coolly.

Then, having assured himself that everything is ready,
he takes his place, as on every other evening, at the bridge
table. Luck does not smile on him; he loses continually
and behold him, trusting to his star, engaged in a bold " three
spades " when Mr. Bower, the Ambulance Captain, comes to
announce the arrival of the wounded. The game stops at
once and our Director goes quickly to the receiving ward.

The convoy which arrives this evening is composed of
severely wounded, exhausted by the long journey in ambu-
lances. Their clothes, their hands and their faces are soiled
with mud. The nurses and orderlies set to work, but there
are not many of them. The toilet of the wounded takes a
long time.

Our Director turns back his sleeves and becomes an orderly.
Conscientiously he soaps the feet of a huge Zouave, who
smiles with deep satisfaction. This job finished, he helps
the surgeon with the dressing, and then, taking one of the
ends of the stretcher, he climbs three flights of stairs, only
relinquishing his precious burden when he has seen it
comfortably installed in a good bed.

Soon, thanks to willing help, the work is finished. All
the wounded have now been washed from head to foot,
clothed anew in clean linen, their wounds redressed. Lying
at ease, after having taken a light meal, they sleep peace-
fully. As I look at my watch and discover that it is past
three o'clock in the morning, I feel a touch on my arm;
it is — Mr. Reckitt, who wants to finish his " three spades."
He alone, of the card-players, is not tired. . . .

I should like to have set down my recollections of the
other administrative officers : of Mr. Fraser, Mr. Cobb (who
left us too soon), of Mr. Middleweek and the rest, but space
is lacking.

I must turn to the Medical Staff, to the acting-surgeons of
American nationality.

When I arrived, the Medecin-Chef was Dr. Blake, a well-
known New York surgeon, specialist in fractures and bone-
grafting, inventor of a most ingenious suspension-apparatus
which, later on, was adopted by all the French military
hospitals.

Dr. Blake had on his staff four acting-surgeons, besides
Mr. Harold Gage, a brilliant radiographer, who had arranged
at great expense a complete installation for radiography and

256 V.R. 76

radioscopy, and Dr. Kenneth Taylor, a bacteriologist, who
prosecuted in his laboratory research work on the different
kind of wound infections. It was from this scientific group
that the first protests had been raised against the abuse of
amputation and, under Dr. Blake's able superintendence,
the Military Hospital V.R. 76 became an important centre
to which the Service de Sante sent serious fracture cases
with marked loss of tissue, aware that Dr. Blake, in his
capacity of surgeon, was always for preserving rather than
for cutting away, and we were able to judge for ourselves
how efficacious was his method of bone-grafting, at a time
when the surgeons in certain of the Paris hospitals were
abandoning this process on account of the poor results
obtained.

Dr. Blake, with his giant frame and his mien of a Roman
emperor, impressed our poilus, but he looked at them with
such sweetness and cordiality that they were quick to feel
that he was a friend and to value at its just worth this heart
of gold.

Informed as to the minutest details, interested in all his
patients, acquainted with them all, he put the finishing
touch to his labours as he escorted his wife through the
wards and watched her distribute presents and good things
to eat.

When his dream of having a hospital of his own in Paris
was realised and Dr. Blake left Hospital V.R. 76 to start
the hospital in the Rue Piccini, our wounded were in despair.

On August 15, 1917, Lieutenant-Colonel William Keller,
surgeon in the American Army, succeeded Dr. Blake. Colonel
Keller was an exceedingly clever operator, and on several
occasions he had opportunity to show his powers by carrying
out successfully operations which other surgeons considered
impossible. Colonel Keller was an able organiser and he
trained in his methods such clever surgeons as Dr. Case
and Dr. Valdes. He had the gift of inspiring in the nursing
personnel a spirit of healthy emulation, which was very
satisfactory. Unfortunately he was obliged to resign in
March 1918, as the American Government had appointed
him head of the Medical Service in the fighting zone.

Major Penhallow, who succeeded him, came from England,
where he had been at the head of an American War Hospital.
In Boston he had made a great reputation as a surgeon and
was the author of some remarkable works on modern surgery.
Till the closing of the hospital he filled the post of Head
Surgeon with unusual competence.

SILHOUETTES 257

I should have liked to have picked out and published the
most striking of the operations carried out by these surgeons.
Such notes would have been valuable contributions towards
the complete study of surgery during the war, but I have
not been able to collect the necessary data. I hope, however,
that the record may be ultimately made.

After having taken an impotent part in the tragic disorder
of the Service de Sante in 1914-1915, and visited, as Medecin-
Chef of a hospital train, ambulances and hospitals in all
parts of the country, I was delighted to find at last in Ris-
Orangis a model hospital, the hospital of my dreams. More
than three thousand severely wounded French soldiers have
benefited by it; these, I know, will never forget the care
they received, but all France ought to know what she owes
to the generous Founders and the eminent surgeons of the
Military Hospital V.R. 76.

May these notes, by an impartial witness, rescue from
oblivion this good work.

(Translation)

THE GRATITUDE OF RIS

IN the month of August 1916, Mademoiselle Galland and
Mademoiselle Rossignol, having noticed with regret that the
coffins of the soldiers who died at the Johnstone-Reckitt
Hospital were decorated only by the wreaths placed there
by patients or the hospital staff, decided to associate the
population of Ris with these tokens of gratitude by placing
a " souvenir palm " on the coffins. To raise the necessary
funds they made a collection on the occasion of each funeral.

The results were so satisfactory that, a year later, Made-
moiselle Galland and Mademoiselle Rossignol decided to
found the society which they called " The Gratitude of
Ris." They were encouraged and helped by Dr. Aribert,
who, since his arrival in September 1916, with the full
support of the Administration of the Hospital and the
Municipality, had caused the erection in the cemetery of
tombs worthy of our soldiers, which were always well kept
and adorned with flowers.

All the young girls accepted the invitation to join and
M. Barreau, Mayor of the Commune, was made President.
Rules were drawn up and the work was authorised by
ministerial decree on June 1, 1917.

Its aims are :

To honour the memory of soldiers who died for their

country ;

To offer moral support to their families ;
To adorn and keep in repair their graves in the cemetery

of Ris.

To-day this society counts more than three hundred
members and these young girls carry on with energy and
devotion the gracious task inspired by their French hearts.

268

(Translation)

SOCIETY OF VOLUNTARY CIVILIAN
STRETCHER-BEARERS

(RIS-ORANGIS SECTION)

FOUNDED on June 2, 1917, by Dr. Aribert to help in the
transport and evacuation of the wounded and more par-
ticularly for the unloading of hospital trains at the station
of Villeneuve-Triage, the Society of Civilian Stretcher-Bearers
was composed of men who, exempt by reason of age or wounds
from military duty, offered their voluntary services.

These stretcher-bearers attended the lectures and practice
drills, held by the founder, to such good purpose that they
soon became adepts and worked regularly for a year, unload-
ing hospital trains and lifting wounded into the ambulances
which were to transport them to the neighbouring hospitals,
and principally to Hopital V.R. 76.

The organisation did good service to our wounded, as it
was started at a time when the number of military orderlies
left at the disposition of the hospitals of the interior had been
greatly reduced.

APPENDIX

PERSONNEL OF H6PITAL MILITAIRE V.R. 76

FOUNDERS
JOHNSTONS, LADY Reckitt, Harold J.

MEDECINS-CHEFS

Kennedy, Foster, M.D., F.R.S. Edin. : June-Oct. 1915. (Irish.)
Blake, Joseph A, M.D. : Oct. 1915-March 1917. (American.)
Taylor, Kenneth, M.A., M.D. : Temporary, July-Sept. 1916.
Evans, Henry C. : Temporary, April-May 1917. (American.)
Keller, Lt.-Col. William : May 1917-March 1918. (American.)
Penhallow, Major D. P., U.S. Army: March-Sept. 1918.

(American.)
Smith, Walter J. : Temporary, June-Sept. 1918. (American.)

ADMINISTRATION

Reckitt, Harold J. (British.)

Johnstone, Lady. (American.)

Marsden, Hugh J. E. : Jan.-June 1916. (British.)

Bower, Joshua : 1916. (British.)

Fraser, John M. : June 1916-May 1918. (British.)

Middleweek, Herbert J. : Aug. 1916-Jan. 1919. (British.)

MATRONS

Morris, Miss Emma (Mrs. Day) : June 1916-Jan. 1917. (British.)
Brouse, Miss (Mme. Payen) : Oct. 1915-Feb. 1916. (British.)
Robertson, Miss Christina (Mrs. Milne) : Feb. 1916-June 1917.

(British.)
Clapp, Mrs. Gertrude : Aug. 1916-Oct. 1918. (Canadian.)

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL STAFF

Alexander, Dr. John : June-No v. 1916. (American.)
Barlet, Dr. Jehan : Nov.-Dec. 1916. (French.)
Black, Dr. Frederick W. : 1916. (American.)
Buckley, Dr. Emma : Anaesthetist, July-Sept. 1918. (American.)
Butler, Dr. Charles T. : June 1916-Jan. 1917. (American.)
Caldwell, Dr. Guy : Jan.-March 1917. (American.)
Card, Daniel P., Major U.S. Army : May-July 1917. (American.)

260

APPENDIX 261

Case, Dr. Edward L. : July 1917-Nov. 1918. (American.)

Caverley, Dr. Charles E. : June-Oct. 1916. (American.)

Crane, A. A. : Sept.-Nov. 1916. (American.)

Crawford, Dr. Stanley E. : June-No v. 1917. (American.)

Desjardins, Dr. A. U. : Dec. 1915-Sept. 1916. (American.)

Downs, Dr. : June 1918. (American.)

Dubled, Paul T. : Surgeon-Dentist, 1916-1918. (French.)

Edwards, George M., Major U.S. Army : May-Aug. 1917.

(American.)
Fisher, Dr. Howard: Physician to Hospital, May-Sept. 1915.

(American.)

Garretson, Dr. Thomas W. : July-Sept. 1918. (American.)
Giles, Dr. W. B. : June 1915-Jan. 1916. (American.)
Graves, Dr. Richard A. : Home Officer, May-Nov. 1916.

(American.)

Holbrooke, Dr. V. R. D. : Nov. 1915. (British.)
Howart-Wright, Dr. C. : 1916. (British.)
Ingalls, Dr. Albert P. : Aug. 1917-Jan. 1918. (American.)
Irwin, Dr. H. C. : Dec. 1916-June 1917. (American.)
Jordan, Dr. J. Wood : Aug.-Oct. 1917. (American.)
Mohan, Dr. H. : June 1915-Feb. 1916. (British.)
Morgan, Dr. David R. : April-June 1917. (American.)
Myers, Dr. Alonzo : Nov. 1916-July 1917. (American.)
Nicolson, Dr. W. P., Jnr. : June 1916-Jan. 1917. (American.)
Payen, Dr. : Nov. 1915-Feb. 1916. (French.)
Penfield, Dr. : 1916. (American.)

Pyle, Dr. Edwin F. : June-Dec. 1916. (New Zealand.)
Rhodes, Dr. Goodwin B. : Dec. 1917-June 1918. (American.)
Sabine, Dr. Jane K. : 1916. (American.)
Stragnell, Dr. G. : Feb.-March 1916. (American.)
Valdes, Dr. Basilic J. : July 1917-June 1918. (Filipino.)
Wright, Dr. Charles S. : March-June 1916. (Canadian.)
Wyant, Dr. James E. : June 1917-June 1918. (American.)
Yeates, Dr. Allan M. : June 1915-Feb. 1916. (Canadian.)

TRAINED NURSING STAFF

Archer, Miss B. C. (Mrs. Haskew) : July 1915-Jan. 1916.

(British.)
Baker, Miss R. A. (Mrs. G. B. Newton) : Feb. 1917-Sept. 1918.

(British.)

Banks, Miss Millie D. : April-Nov. 1916. (British.)
Beard, Miss Rose : May-Oct. 1916. (Canadian.)
Beatty, Miss L. T. : July-Dec. 1915. (American.)
Bentley, Miss Ruth S. : June-No v. 1916. (American.)
Blackstone, Miss Eleanor F. : Jan.-July 1918. (American.)
Brimstin, Miss Catherine : Oct. 1916-April 1917. (Canadian.)
Buchanan, Miss Elizabeth : Nov. 1916-June 1918. (British.)
Callum, Miss M. : Nov. 1915-April 1916. (British.)

I

262 APPENDIX

Cameron, Miss E. Gladys : Nov. 1917-Nov. 1918. (Canadian.)

Carson, Miss I. V. : Nov. 1915-June 1916. (American.)

Charles, Miss M. : March-May 1916. (British.)

Clarke, Miss Rose : June-Sept. 1918. (British.)

Cowan, Miss Lyla : Aug. 1916-Oct. 1918. (Canadian.)

Crossfield, Miss Nellie : April-Oct. 1918. (British.)

Cross, Mrs. Alice M. : June-Oct. 1918. (British.)

Crysler, Miss E. Feme : June 1917-Feb. 1918. (Canadian.)

Curphey, Miss E. : April-Oct. 1916. (American.)

Currie, Miss Crissie (Mme. Ph. Sandre) : April 1916-Oct. 1918.

(British.)

Dearden, Miss Alice : March-Sept. 1917. (American.)
Dewar, Miss Florence : Sept. 1916-Sept. 1918. (British.)
Dewar, Miss Margaret : Sept. 1916-Sept. 1918. (British.)
Dorrington, Miss Louise : July 1917-Jan. 1918. (Australian.)
Duguid, Miss Mary P. : Nov. 1916-Sept. 1918. (British.)
Dunning, Miss Matilda : April-Oct. 1916. (Canadian.)
Eadie, Miss Margaret W. : Feb. 1916-March 1917. (British.)
Emmons, Miss Eva : July 1916-June 1917. (American.)
Excell, Mrs. D. A. : July 1915-Oct. 1918. (British.)
Farr, Miss Winona M. : Oct. 1916-Feb. 1917. (Canadian.)
Fisher, Miss Sydney E. : May-July 1917. (British.)
Gale, Miss Mabel : April 1917. (Australian.)
Gallagher, Mrs. L. A. : July-Dec. 1915. (American.)
Garcia, Miss Cecilia V. : Feb.-June 1917. (American.)
Gardiner, Miss Anna E. : June 1917-Jan. 1918. (Canadian.)
Hartigh, Miss den : Oct. 1915-Feb. 1916. (Dutch.)
Hatch, Miss Caroline R. (Mrs. Kernochan) : Nov. 1916-Feb. 1917.

(American.)

Hayhurst, Miss Margaret : Dec. 1916-March 1917. (British.)
Hollands, Miss Agnes (Mrs. Kirk): Aug. 1916-Feb. 1917.

(American.)

Hopkings, Miss Louise : July 1917-July 1918. (Canadian.)
Hungerford, Miss Mary C. : April 1917-May 1918. (Australian.)
Jamieson, Miss Agnes B. : June-Nov. 1916. (Canadian.)
Jessup, Miss Elsie M. : June-Dec. 1917. (American.)
Joice, Miss Mabel M. : March 1917-Jan. 1918. (Canadian.)
Kilbourne, Miss Olive A. : April-Oct. 1916. (Canadian.)
Kist, Miss Marie C. : Feb.-Oct. 1916. (Dutch.)
Kuhn, Miss Connie : Feb.-April 1916. (American.)
Le Sueur, Miss Helen : June-Dec. 1916. (Canadian.)
MacCullum, Miss Jessie : Oct. 1915-April 1916. (Canadian.)
Maclean, Mrs. A. Bruce. June 1916-June 1917. (British.)
McDonald, Miss Jessie : March-Dec. 1917. (British.)
McDowell, Miss Marie L. : Jan.-July 1918. (American.)
McKerlie, Miss Mary B. : Oct. 1916-March 1917. (Canadian.)
McKillop, Miss Elizabeth : Sept. 1917-April 1918. (British.)
Metcalfe, Miss Berthe C. : Aug.-Sept. 1918. (British.)

APPENDIX 263

Miller, Miss K. Loten : Oct.-Nov. 1915. (British.)

Mitchell, Miss Minnie A. : May 1916-April 1918. (Canadian.)

Moffatt, Miss A. Maud : Aug. i915-Jan. 1916. (Canadian.)

Mutch, Miss : Nov. 1916. (Canadian.)

Neary, Miss. : Sept. 1916-Oct. 1918. (American.)

Niven, Miss Isabella : May-Dec. 1916. (British.)

O'Toole, Miss Margaret : Oct. 1915-March 1916. (Irish.)

Parrish, Miss Paralee : April 1917-June 1918. (American.)

Paul, Miss Robina : July-Oct. 1918. (British.)

Porter, Miss Elizabeth : June 1917-Oct. 1918. (American.)

Powell, Miss Helen C. (Mrs. A. W. Carnichael) : June-Nov. 1916.

(Canadian.)

Powell, Miss S. E. : June-Dec. 1915. (American.)
Ptolemy, Miss J. M. : Jan.-March 1917. (Canadian.)
Purvis, Miss Rachel : May-Dec. 1916. (Irish.)
Ricketts, Miss Kate E. : 1915. (British.)
Rodgers, Miss Ellen A. : 1915. (Australian.)
Ross, Miss Jean G. : Dec. 1916-June 1917. (British.)
Roussin, Miss Zoe P. : Dec. 1916. (British.)
Reijers, Miss A. M. (Mme. Brix) : Oct. 1915-July 1916. (Dutch.)
Selby, Miss Jane : Nov. 1915-June 1916. (Canadian.)
Spence, Miss Lilliane G. : May 1917-Oct. 1918. (Canadian.)
Stephen, Miss Mary E. R. (Mrs. John Powelson) : Aug.-Nov. 1916.

(British.)

Sutherland, Miss Margaret : Jan.-July 1918. (British.)
Thomson, Miss Margaret : April-Oct. 1916. (Canadian.)
Threlkeld, Miss Mary T. : June-Nov. 1918. (British.)
Viggars, Miss Ruth : Oct. 1915-Dec. 1916. (Canadian.)
Wallace, Miss : May 1917-Oct. 1918. (American.)
Walters, Miss Hilda : June-Dec. 1916. (British.)
West, Miss Edith : Oct. 1915-March 1916. (British.)
Willmott, Miss : Oct. 1915. (British.)

Winning, Miss Margaret : Nov. 1915-Sept. 1916. (British.)
Wood, Miss Margaret : Nov. 1917-Oct. 1918. (Canadian.)
Wright, Miss Grace : Feb.-April 1916. (British.)
Young, Miss Margaret : June-Dec. 1916. (British.)
Glekie, Mme. de. (French.)
LeQuitz, Mme. Henri. (French.)

VOLUNTARY NURSES

Conner, Miss Dorothy: Aug.-Sept. 1917; June-Aug. 1918.

(American.)

Congreve, Lady : July 1915-July 1916. (British.)
Deane, Miss Eileen D. : March-June 1918. (British.)
Gardiner, Miss Mabel : Aug.-Sept. 1918. (American.)
La Rocque, Miss Theodora : July-Sept. 1916. (American.)
Lebedt, Mile. M. : Oct. 1915-Feb. 1916. (French.)
Lebedt, Mile. S. : Oct. 1915-Feb. 1916. (French.)

264 APPENDIX

Lesher, Miss Theresa : Aug.-Sept. 1917 ; June-Aug. 1918.

(American.)

Lyall, Miss Marion. Dec. 1916-Sept. 1918. (American.)
Lyons, Miss Elsie R. : Dec. 1916-Oct. 1918. (American.)
McFadden, Miss Eleanor : Nov. 1917-Oct. 1918. (American.)
Paterson, Miss L. H. : Oct. 1915-Jan. 1916. (British.)
Ryder, Lady Frances : May-Sept. 1916. (British.)
Skinner, Mrs. Allen : June 1918-Jan. 1919. (British.)
Verner, Mrs. M. H. : June-Sept. 1915. (Irish.)

X-RAY DEPARTMENT

Gage, Harold C. : Chief Radiographer, Feb. 1915-Nov. 1918.
(British.)

Yeates, Dr. G. M. : Radiologist, Aug. 1915- June 1916. (Canadian.)

Slater, Miss Mabel : Physicist and Assistant Radiographer, March-
Sept. 1918. (British.)

Beer, Frederick T. : Assistant Radiographer, July 1915-Feb. 1918.
(British.)

Applegarth, R. G. : Assistant Photographer, Jan. 1916-Jan. 1918.
(N. Zealand.)

Frost, Frederick J. : Assistant Photographer, Sept. 1916-Oct. 1918.
(British.)

LABORATORY

Taylor, Dr. Kenneth : Nov. 1915-March 1917. (American.)

Davies, Miss Mary : Nov. 1915-March 1917. (British.)

Buxton, Dr. Bertram : May-Oct. 1916. (British.)

Holman, Dr. William L. : Dec. 1916-July 1917. (Canadian.)

Magee, Capt. Hugh E. : Dec. 1915-Nov. 1916. (Irish.)

Levy, Dr. Robert Jean : 1916. (French.)

Carver, Miss Gertrude : Secretary, Nov. 1915-March 1917.

(British.)

Larcher, H. : Assistant.
Stanton, S. H. : Orderly. Sept.-Dec. 1915, (British.)

ANAESTHETISTS

Buckley, Dr. Emma.
Hay hurst, Miss Margaret 1
McDonald, Miss Jessie [• Nurses.
Thomson, Miss Margaret J

CHEFS DES AMBULANCES

Grotrian, Frederick : July-Nov. 1915. (British.)
Grotrian, Herbert B. : Nov. 1915-Feb. 1916. (British.)
Bower, Joshua : Nov. 1915-March 1917. (British.)
Eraser, J. M. : March 1917-April 1918. (British.)
Middleweek, H. J. : May 1915-Sept. 1916. (British.)

APPENDIX 265

VOLUNTARY DRIVERS

Blundell, Walter : Aug.-Oct. 1918. (British.)
Burden Muller, Rowland : Dec. 1915-Jan. 1918. (British.)
Bury, Lindsay : Aug. 1916-Aug. 1917. (British.)
Cobb, Harold C. : Jan. 1916-Nov. 1918. (British.)
Grotrian, Herbert B. : July-Nov. 1915. (British.)
Jones, Jeremy Peyton : Oct. 1915-June 1916. (British.)
Phillips, A. Houstin : May-Nov. 1917. (British.)
Vaughan-Wilkes, L. C. : July-Oct. 1915. (British.)

PAID DRIVERS AND MECHANICS

Biddies, Miss Lilian G. : Feb. 1918. (British.)

Christie, Percy H. : July 1915-Oct. 1918. (British.)

Gillequin, Georges. (French.)

Lambert, Ernest E. : June-Sept. 1916. (British.)

Lepelletier, Maurice. (French.)

Murrough, Miss McCarthy : Feb.-Nov. 1918. (British.)

Spiers, Charles F. : July 1915-Sept. 1918. (British.)

LINEN-ROOM STAFF

Colby, Miss Julia C. (Mrs. Macleod). (American.)

Davison, Miss Lena. (British.)

Foret, Mme. T. (French.)

Galland, Mile. M. (French.)

Greenham, Mrs. (British.)

Dommett, Miss H. (American.)

Lyall, Miss Agnes. (American.)

Maclean, Miss Lorna. (British.)

Mayer, Madame. (French.)

Rossignol, Mile. L. (French.)

DIET KITCHEN STAFF

Kennedy, Mrs. Foster : June-Oct. 1915. (Irish.)
Davison, Miss Lena : Oct. 1915-May 1918. (British.)
Hunt, Miss. (British.)
"Marie." (French.)

BANDAGE-ROOM STAFF — VOLUNTARY.*

Duer, Miss Caroline : Oct. 1915-Dec. 1916. (American.)
Desjardins, Mrs. : Dec. 1915-Sept. 1916. (American.)
Douane, Mile. Helene : Nov. 1915-Oct. 1918. (French.)
Grosvenor, Miss Margaret (Mrs. Peyton Jones) : April-June 1916,

(British.)
Mohan, Mrs. : Nov. 1915-Feb. 1916. (American.)

* Unfortunately no list was kept of the names of the ladies of Ria who
worked in the Bandage-Room.

266 APPENDIX

HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT

Barugh, Miss : July 1915-Feb. 1916. (Irish.)

Desjardins, Mrs. : Dec. 1915-Sept. 1916. (American.)

Hunt, Miss Constance : Feb. 1916-Sept. 1918. (British.)

Irwin, Miss Mary : Oct. 1915-Jan. 1916. (Irish.)

Lyons, Miss E. R. (American.)

McWean, Miss Jessie : 1916. (British.)

Neild, Miss Elsie M. : Sept. 1917-June 1918. (British.)

PARIS BUYERS
Ball, S. J. (British.)
Bimont, Mme. (French.)
Burdon Muller, R. (British.)
Stanton, S. H. (British.)

ORDERLIES

Larcher, Henry : Head Orderly, July 1915-March 1917. (British.)
Bruce, William D. : Head Orderly, May 1916-Aug. 1917.

(British.)
Levett, Charles W. : Head Orderly, July 1915-Oct. 1918.

(British.)

Atkins, Alfred : June 1917-Oct. 1918. (British.)
Bardsley, H. W. : Aug. 1917. (British.)
Carless, Walter : Oct. 1916-Feb. 1918. (British.)
Cooke, Jack : Nov. 1915-Feb. 1916. (British.)
Cresswell, James C. : Carpenter, Aug. 1915-April 1916. (British.)
Dahm, Nicolas : May-Dec. 1916. (Luxembourgeois.)
Davies, F. A. : Aug. 1916-May 1917. (British.)
De Jersey, Henry : Aug.-Oct. 1916. (American.)
Dyke, J. M. : Mess and Pharmacy, July 1915-Jan. 1916.

(British.)

Dymant, Arthur R. : Aug. 1917-Feb. 1918. (British.)
Fair, Myron R. : Oct. 1915-March 1917. (British.)
Greenhalgh, Israel A. : Aug.-Dec. 1916. (British.)
Greenhalgh, William H. : Sept.-Dec. 1916. (British.)
Harrison, Thomas : Nov. 1915-May 1916. (British.)
Horrocks, Albert S. : Sept. 1916-Dec. 1917. (British.)
Johannessen-Adrian, B. C. : May-Dec. 1916. (Norwegian.)
Langdon, George M. : Nov. 1915-Sept. 1916. (British.)
Langton, Percy J. : Sept. 1917-May 1918. (British.)
Leggett, Charles : July 1915-April 1916. (British.)
Mairet, Philip A. : May-Dec. 1916. (British.)
Marchant, Stephen G. : Nov. 1915-Jan. 1918. (British.)
Matthews, William : May 1916-Feb. 1917. (British.)
Miller, Ernest V. : June-Aug. 1917. (British.)

APPENDIX 267

Moore, Joseph R. : July 1916-Sept. 1918. (British.)
Porter, Arthur H. : Aug. 1916-Oct. 1918. (British.)
Robert, J. : Jan. 1916. (British.)
Stanton, S. H. : Nov. 1915-Jan. 1916. (British.)
Simpson, William E. : July 1915-Oct. 1918. (British.)
Wilson, S. A. : Aug.-Nov. 1915. (British.)
Wookey, E. : July 1915-April 1916. (British.)
Wyatt, Henry P. : Aug. 1915-April 1916. (British.)

VOLUNTARY ORDERLIES

Bennett, Frederick T. : Sept. 1916-March 1917. (British.)
Ellis, Edward A. : May 1916. (British.)
Fordham, Christopher M. : Aug.-Sept. 1916. (British.)
Fordham, Montague : April-Oct. 1916. (British.)
Lotherington, Richard : Jan.-May 1917. (American.)
Maitland, Rev. Rowland W. : May-July 1916. (British.)
Twose, George M. R. : March-Aug. 1916. (American.)
Wild, Thomas N. : June-Aug. 1916. (British.)
Zelliacus, Konni : Oct. 1915-July 1916. (Finn.)

OFFICE STAFF
Administrative :• —

Atkins, Alfred : June 1917-Oct. 1918. (British.)
Ball, Sydney J. : Oct. 1915-March 1917. (British.)
Davies, Frederick E. : June 1916-June 1917. (British.)
Dunstan, M. E. : June 1916-Died Oct. 1916. (British.)
Hardman, H. C. : Dec. 1915-May 1916. (British.)

Medical :• —

Boiseau, Mile. Renee : April 1917-Sept. 1918. (French.)
Germond, Mile. : Sept. 1917-March 1918. (French.)
Haack, Miss Van den K., March-Oct. 1916. : Keeper of French

Records.
Hervieu, Mile. Germaine (Mme. Pierre Moors) : April 1916-Oct,

1917. Assistant Secretary. (French.)

Le Paulmier, Mile. M. : Oct. 1915-Sept. 1918. Secretary. (French.)
Racine, Mile. Simone : May 1918. Assistant Secretary. (French.)
Revenel, Mile. Assistant Secretary. (French.)
Questel, Albert : Jan.-April 1917. Secretary to Dr. Blake.

(French.)

BOY SCOUT
Congreve, John : Aug. 1916. (British.)

STOREKEEPER
Kay, William : June 1916-Sept. 1918. (British.)

268 APPENDIX

OFFICERS D' AD MINISTRATION GESTIONNAIRES

Morel, Capitaine : Officer d' Administration de lfere classe en 1915.
Augendre, Monsieur : „ „ „ 26me „ „ 1916.

Aribert, Dr. A. : „ „ „ 3&me 1916-1918,

AUM6NIERS

Chapeau, L'Abbe : July 1915-Oct. 1918.
Flavigny, L.'Abbe.

FRENCH NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS

Daubenton, Gustave. Pa vie, Ernest.

Legoud-Weber, Pierre. Wolf, Emile.

Ballot, Henri. Mathieu, Charles.

Basnian, Arthur. Noel, Charles.

Belli vier, Auguste. Pellegrain, Ernest.

Bouvalot, Louis. Prevost, Marcel.

Bousquet, Leon. Prudent, Auguste.

Charlotin, Eugene. Richard, Lucien.

Gaillard, Rene. Roger, Auguste.

Guhue, Jean. Rombaut, Louis.

Kappler, Francois. Sandre, Gabriel.

Larue, Elie. Simon, Frederic.

Laurent, Jean. Tremel, Tugdual.

Leroux, Leon. Zimmermann, Louis.

FRENCH WOMEN ORDERLIES

Mesdames :

Beaufils. Lemaitre.

Bergerot. Lestrade.

Blanlocil. Phillip.

Bodquin. Pie.

Damaison. Poterre.

Delacourt. Rocher.

Delbos. Rondot.

Geermeyns. Sennegon.

APPENDIX 269

DECORATIONS CONFERRED BY THE FRENCH GOVERN-
MENT ON MEMBERS OF THE RIS HOSPITAL STAFF,
AT THE HOSPITAL OR ELSEWHERE

LA MEDAILLE D'OR DES AFFAIRES £TRANGERES

Order of Elizabeth (Belgian)
The Hon. Lady Johnstone.

LA ME"DAILLE D'OR D'HONNEUR
Miss C. Robertson (Mrs. Milne).

LEGION D'HONNEUR

Joseph Blake, M.D. Major Card.

Kenneth Taylor, M.D. Harold Cobb.

Major Edwards. Lieut. -Colonel William Keller.

LA CROIX DE GUERRE

Joshua Bower. With bronze star.

Miss Dorothy Conner. 1
Miss Theresa Lesher. \ With silver star.
Mrs. Julia A. C. Reckitt. I

LA ROSETTE D'OFFICER DE L'!NSTRUCTION PUBLIQUE
J. M. Fraser. Harold C. Gage.

LA MEDAILLE DE VERMEIL DE L'ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE
Miss C. Robertson (Mrs. Milne). Miss Lena Davison.

LA MEDAILLE D' ARGENT DE L'ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE
Mrs. D. Excell. Frederic T. Beer.

LA MEDAILLE DE BRONZE DE L'ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE

S. G. Marchant. C. W. Levett.

W. E. Simpson. P. H. Christie.

C. F. Spiers.

LA MEDAILLE DE LA RECONNAISSANCE FRANCHISE

2nd Class

Dr. Edward P. Case. Mrs. Lilian A. Decker.

Miss Caroline Duer. Mrs. Morton Plant.

Mrs. Julia A. C. Reckitt. Basilio J. Valdes, M.D.

270 APPENDIX

3rd Class

Rowland Bur don Muller. Lindsay Bury.

Mrs. Gertrude Clapp. Miss Lyla Cowan.

Miss Lina Davison. John Mathison Fraser.

Harold C. Gage. Herbert J. Middleweek.

Miss Ella Niven. Miss Elizabeth Porter.
Dr. James Edward Wyant.

L'INSIGNE D'HONNEUR

Destine a recompenser les Infirmieres qui, avec Constance et
assiduite, se sont devouees aupres de nos blesses.

Miss Lena Davison. \

Mrs. Deborah Excell. T . -,,.

Miss Constance Hunt. [ InsiSne d Argent.

Mademoiselle Helene Douane.

Insigne de Bronze.

Miss Minnie Mitchell.
Miss Ella Niven.
Miss Florence Dewar.
Miss Margaret Dewar.
Miss Crissie Currie.
Mrs. Gertrude Clapp.
Miss Lyla Cowan.

Decorations were also conferred on the following :—

Miss Mary Da vies. Miss Carver.

Miss Me Wean. Frederick Da vies.

Miss Eadie. R. G. Applegarth.

REPORT OF SURGICAL SERVICE
HOPITAL V.R. 76, RIS-ORANGIS

The following report covers the first fifteen months of the
active service of this hospital, the period from October 1, 1915,
to January 1, 1917.

General Character. — The hospital is a base hospital treating
only surgical cases among wounded soldiers. It is situated at
Ris-Orangis, about twelve miles from the gates of Paris. It has
a capacity of 210 beds, and is the operating centre for a group
of nine hospitals which are attached to it.

With the hospital is associated the Robert Walton Goelet Fund
for War Research.

The hospital has an ambulance service consisting of six cars
for the transportation of the wounded. During the period covered
by this report these cars have transported 2806 wounded soldiers
between the receiving stations and various hospitals.

APPENDIX 271

Cases Treated. — The majority of the wounded have been received
from two to ten days after injury, and have, of course, had pre-
liminary treatment in hospitals near the front.

Trains arriving from the front are unloaded and the cases
distributed throughout the district by the hospital ambulance
corps, only the more severely wounded men being brought to
this hospital.

The number of wounded treated during the period covered by
this report is 1034. The condition of these patients on entrance
is shown in the table below : —

Infected fractures 535 (52% of 1034)

Thigh ~68 ( 5J% „ )

Fractures involving knee . . . 31 ( 3% „ )

Leg (one or both bones) . . . 106(10% „ )

Ankle 26 ( 2J% „ )

Foot 11 ( 1% „ ,

Arm 71 ( 7% „ )

Fractures involving elbow . . . 29 ( 3% „ )

Forearm (one or both bones) . . . 61 ( 6% „ )

Wrist 9(1%,,)

Hand . . . . . . 18 ( 2% „ )

Total fractures of extremities. . . 420(41% „ )

Pelvis 9(1%,,)

Shoulder girdle 34 ( 3J% „ )

Ribs 16 ( l|% , )

Cranium 51 ( 5% , )

Face 3( J%

Vertebral column 2 ( ^ %

.'*' Chronic bone sinuses . . . .12(1%

Among these cases i —

Those with fractures in two locations num-
bered . . . . . . 36 ( 3J% „ )

Those with fractures in three or more loca-
tions numbered . . . . 5 ( J% ,, )

Those with one fracture and a previous am-
putation numbered . . . .10(1%,, )

Those with two fractures and a previous am-
putation numbered . . . . 2(5%,, )

Those with previous amputations numbered 61 ( 6% „ )

Flesh Wounds : —

The number of flesh wounds without frac-
ture was 484(47% „

They were chiefly muscular wounds of the extremities.

272 APPENDIX

In addition to these, the following cases may be specially
noted : —

Penetrating wounds of the chest . . 65 ( 6J% of 1034)

„ abdomen . 19 ( 2% „ )

„ brain . . 15 ( lj% „ )

Wounds of the ear .... 3 ( J% „ )

„ eye . . . . 6( J% „ )

„ large nerve trunks . 27 ( 2J% „ )

Arterio-venous aneurisms (carotid) . 2 ( -J-% „ )

Miscellaneous wounds . . . .51(5% „ )

Cause of Injury. — The wounds by various missiles may be
divided as follows : —

Shell 666

Ball 140

Grenade 31

Shrapnel . . . . .18
Miscellaneous .... 49
Unknown 130

Special Infections associated with Wounds : —

Gas gangrene . .14 (deaths 3)

Tetanus ... 6 (deaths 2)

Septicaemia ... 9 (deaths 4)

Operations. — Five hundred and thirty-four operations requiring
general anaesthesia have been performed in the operating-room.
These were performed for the following purposes : —

Removal of foreign bodies . . . . .158

„ „ fragments of dead bone . . .122
Incision and drainage . . . . . .93

Re-amputation or revision of stump . . .14
Nerve sutures ....... 11

Hernias ........ 11

Revision of wounds . . . . . .15

Appendectomy ....... 10

Amputation ....... 8

Removal of foreign bodies from lung or pleural cavity 9
Drainage of pleural cavity ..... 6

Correction of fractures ..... 5

To arrest haemorrhage ...... 4

Bone graft 6

Resection hip ....... 2

Resection elbow ....... 1

Miscellaneous ....... 60

Operative mortality . 1 (thymic death)

APPENDIX 273

Amputations. — Out of 420 infected fractures of the extremities
only eight amputations were performed. This is less than 2 per
cent, of the cases, a remarkably low rate for injuries of this severe
type. The reasons for amputating follow : —

Left thigh: 5:—

1. Infected fracture of thigh and both bones involving knee-

joint.

2. Infected fracture of thigh with wounds of knee and foot.

3. Infected fracture of thigh and knee ; septicaemia.

4. Spontaneous tuberculous arthritis and osteomyelitis of

knee-joint.

5. Infected knee ; secondary haemorrhage of popliteal artery.

Right leg: 1 I—-
Infected fracture of both bones; multiple wounds of soft
parts ; tetanus ; pulmonary tuberculosis.

Left leg: 1:—

Infected fracture both bones and involvement of ankle-joint.
Right foot: 1 :—

Multiple wounds right leg and foot.

Deaths. — In spite of the very serious character of the majority
of the cases treated, there have been only twenty deaths — a
mortality rate of 2 per cent. About half of these deaths were due to
causes other than the injury for which the patients were admitted.
The following were the causes of death : —

Streptococcic pyaemia or septicaemia . . .4
Acute gas gangrene (two received in advanced stage). 3
Acute tetanus ....... 2

Acute osteomyelitis of the femur . . . .2

Brain abscess or hernia . . . . . .2

Pulmonary tuberculosis . . . . .2

Amoebic dysentery . . . . . .1

Thymic death ....... 1

Purulent peritonitis . . . . . .1

Apoplexy ........ 1

Myocarditis and purulent arthritis . . .1

It is impossible to conclude the surgical report with the same
detail as the foregoing one for the first fifteen months, which was
prepared during the full activities of the hospital and with the
full histories of the cases to hand.

At the time of evacuation, previous to closure, the stress of
work on the doctors and clerical staff was such as to render it
impossible to carry out such analysis, and the histories of the
T

274 APPENDIX

patients had to be turned over to the bureau of the Service de
Sante.

However, the foregoing report is essentially applicable to the
latter period, which dates from January 1, 1917, to the date of
closing, August 1918.

The cardinal features of the period are here set out as follows : —

Number of Cases treated, 1st period .... 1034

2nd „ . . . . 1414

Total number of Cases treated, full period . . . 2448

Deaths, 1st period 21

„ 2nd „ 32

Mortality Rate, 1st period 2%

„ 2nd „ 2.26%

Deaths due to accidents brought into hospital

Staff Death (Medical Case) .

Total, whole period ...... 56

SURGICAL ACTIVITIES
Operations : —

The number of operations for war injuries requiring General
Anaesthetic was, 677

Among the more important were : —

Head, Brain and Neck ....

Thorax .....

Abdomen and Pelvis .....
Limbs (not amputation) ..... 455
Amputations (Upper Extremity) 2 . . *^ 14
(Lower ) 12 ./

607

Miscellaneous 70

Operations for other than war injuries . . 59

Total for 2nd period .... 736
Total for whole period .... 1270

Operations above enumerated include : —

Removal of foreign bodies (successful 141) . . 148

Additional number of foreign bodies removed in the wards 57
Removal of dead bone (sequestration) . . . . 118

Nerve suture ........ 4

Secondary suture of wounds . . . . .13

Bone grafts .11

Transplantation of tendon .... 5

Tendon suture. ....

Gastroenterostomy

Liberation of nerve . .... 5

APPENDIX 275

Foreign bodies removed from : —

Spine ........ 1

Thorax 7

Abdomen ....... 3

Liver ........ 1

Cervicae ........ 2

Deaths include : —

From septicaemia ...... 3

„ tetanus ....... 1

It should be mentioned that over one period of stress, cases
were being received almost directly from the battlefield and were
in such bad condition that the mortality was high, several deaths
occurring in the first forty-eight hours.

Other activities are set out in the narrative, and, except for the
list of further publications, need no further mention here.

ORIGINAL WORKS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS OF THE
STAFF OF H6PITAL MILITAIRE V.R. 76, RIS-
ORANGIS, S. ET M., FONDATION JOHNSTONE-
RECKITT

JOSEPH A. BLAKE, M.D., Lieut.-Col., Medical Corps, U.S.A.

Gun-shot Fractures of the Extremities.

La Suspension avec Extension dans le Traitement des Frac-
tures des Membres.

Attelle pour le Transport des Fractures des Extremites
Inferieures, Archives de Medecine et de Pharmacie Militaires,
Juillet, 1916, p. 57.

KENNETH TAYLOR, M.A., M.D., Pathologist, American Hospital,
Paris.

Factors Responsible for Gaseous Gangrene.

Frequency of Chest Complications among the Wounded.

Mechanism of Saline Dressings.

Note on a Case of Self-Inoculation with the Bacillus Aerogenes

Capsulatus.
The Use of Quinine Hydrochloride Solution as a Dressing

for Infected Wounds.
The Use of Quinine in the Treatment of Experimental

Gaseous Gangrene. With Notes on the Value of Quinine

Hydrochloride as a General Antiseptic.

276 APPENDIX

Treatment of Bacillus Pyocyaneus Infection.

La Gangrene Gazeuse, Archives de Medecine et de Pharmacie

Militaires, Juin 1916, p. 838.
Observations on the Pathology and Bacteriology of Gas

Gangrene, Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology, Vol. XX.

1916, p. 384.

Tissue Fragments and Wound Infections, Annals of Surgery.
Note sur Deux Cas Mortels de Gangrene Gazeuse M6ta-

statique, Archives de Mtdecine et de Pharmacie Militaires,

Septembre 1916, p. 353.

Two Fatal Cases of Metastatic Gas Gangrene, Lancet, Decem-
ber 28, 1916, p. 1057. French version published in Archives

de Medecine et de Pharmacie Militaires.
Gas Gangrene : Its Course and Treatment, Johns Hopkins

Hospital Bulletin, Vol. XXVII., No. 308, October 1916.

French version published in Les Archives de Medecine et

de Pharmacie Militaires.
Specificity in Antiseptics, Lancet, February 24, 1917. French

version published in Archives de Medecine et de Pharmacie

Militaires.

MARY DA VIES, Bacteriologist, the " Robert Walton Goelet
Research Fund," Hopital Militaire, V.R. 76.

L'Antiseptisation des Vetements Militaires comme Moyen

Prophylactique de L' Infection des Plaies de Guerre.
Treatment of Cloth by Antiseptic Substances in Relation to

Wound Infections.

H. E. MAGEE, Capt., I.M.S.

A Comparison of certain Antiseptics in respect to their
Diffusibility, Action on Leucocytes and Action on Fer-
ments, Edinburgh Medical Journal, February 1917.

FOSTER KENNEDY, M.D., F.R.S., Edin.

Stock-brainedness, the Causative Factor in the so-called

" Crossed Aphasias."
The Nature of Nervousness in Soldiers, Transactions of the

American Neurological Association, May 1918.
Infective Neurontis, Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry,

December 1919, Vol. II.

HAROLD C. GAGE.

Simplified X-ray Methods, Archives of Radiology and
Electrotherapy, June 1917.

Contents : —

1. Localisation of foreign bodies.

2. Stereoscopic radiography of the limbs.

3. Observation on fractures.

4. The use of bromide paper.
11 Illustrations, 2 plates.

APPENDIX 277

A Tube and Plate Carrier for Bedside Radiography, Archives

of Radiology and Electrotherapy, No. 218. 2 Illustrations.

(Presented at the French Military Conference.)
X-ray Examinations for Foreign Bodies in the Eye and

their Localisation. Translated and extracted from the

original in French for publication in the American R.C.

War Medicine. Original article by Dr. J. Belot and Dr.

Fraudet in Journal de Radiologie. 4 Illustrations in the

extracts.
Extracted and published by The British Medical Journal.

No. 1 above, item 2.
Localisation of Foreign Bodies. By request for publication

in the American R.C. War Medicine. 4 Illustrations.
Bromide Paper and its Place in War Economy, Archives of

Radiology and Electrotherapy. 7 Illustrations. Nov. 1919.
Localisation of Foreign Bodies in the Eye. Revised and

enlarged translated extract. By request. In Archives of

Radiology and Electrotherapy. 12 Illustrations.
Tube Centering and Projection, Archives of Radiology and

Electrotherapy. 5 Illustrations.
An Auxiliary Switch-board as an Aid to Short Exposures,

Archives of Radiology and Electrotherapy. 2 Illustrations.
Simultaneous Fluoroscopy in Two Planes, Archives of

Radiology and Electrotherapy. 4 Illustrations. Dec. 1919.
Translated into French, for publication in Journal de

Radiologie.
Lateral Radiography of the Spine in Suspected Injuries

of the Spine, Archives of Radiology and Electrotherapy.

Jan. 1919.
Translated into French, for publication in the Journal de

Radiologie.

BOOKS BY H. C. GAGE.

X-Ray Observations for Foreign Bodies and their Localisation.
With Frontispiece, 2 Plates and 55 Illustrations.

This book comprises the subject-matter of lectures
given to Medical Officers of the American Army at the
clinic at Ris-Orangis by the author. Published by
request. (Wm. Heinemann.)

X-Ray Diagnosis of Bone Conditions in Compound Fractures
of the War. 156 Illustrations, many full page.

This book comprises the subject-matter of lectures
given to Medical Officers of the American Army at the
clinic at Ris-Orangis. Arrangements now being made
for publication.

278

APPENDIX

DEATHS IN RIS-ORANG1S HOSPITAL

Date.

*Soldat

Durgnat, Paul Cast on .

. 19 10 15

*

99

Jalabert, Georges Victor Jean

. 31.10.15

*Caporal

Grandcoing, Pierre

27 4 16

*Soldat

Driencourt, Arthur Jules Philemon

3. 5.16

*

99

Iputcha, Michel ....

. 5. 5.16

•
jj

Antoine, Leon Gustave .

9. 5.16

•

Pauchard, Francois .

2 6 16

>J

•
»»

Boullier, Jean Baptiste Georges

. 8. 6.16

*

M

Camus, Gaston .

. 27. 6.16

*S/officier

Louvrier, Felix ....

. 29. 6.16

Marechal

des Logis

Pechin, Pierre Frederic .

. 5. 7.16

Maitre-

Pointeur

Malle, Kleber ....

. 14. 7.16

Soldat

Dothal, Pierre Eugene .

. 29. 7.16

*

Pollet, Henri Joseph

5 8 16

55

*Sergent

Duchemin, Robert Charles

. 17. 8.16

99

Saint-Marcoux, Antoine

1. 9.16

*Soldat

Tardivon, Leon Frangois

. 13. 9.16

Caporal

Gimilac, Henri ....

. 16. 9.16

*Soldat

Regent, Georges Jules Elie

. 29. 9.16

•

99

Monnier-Benoit, Jules Edouard

. 2.10.16

*

99

Plancher, Louis Gabriel .

. 15.10.16

*
99

Roussel, Auguste ....

. 9.12.16

Caporal

Le Guillon, Maxence

. 13.12.16

Soldat

Bonnoron, Frangois

. 21.12.16

Lieutenant

Borel, Henri Louis

. 24. 1.17

Soldat

Labeau, Armand Louis .

. 27. 1.17

*

99

Delga, Georges Gaston .

. 17. 2.17

*
»

Garo, Rene .....

. 6. 5.17

Adjudant

Voyeau, Alexandre

. 10. 5.17

*Soldat

Jouglens, Pierre Paul

. 17. 5.17

*

99

Laduz, Joseph ....

. 18. 5.17

*

If

Vial, Claude

. 21. 5.17

*
99

Riffard, Cyprian Marius

. 3. 6.17

*
J>

Haerrig, Marius Virgile .

. 14. 6.17

*
99'

Dubas, iSmile Louis

. 28. 7.17

Caporal

Laurent, Joseph ....

. 22. 8.17

Soldat

Theron, Lucien Desire .

. 28. 9.17

99

Jolly, Eugene Louis

. 6.11.17

9)

Paul, Adolphe ....

. 6. 1.18

19

Ferriere, Raymond

. 3. 4.18

* Buried in Ris-Orangis Cemetery.

APPENDIX

279

Soldat

Brigadier

Soldat

Caporal

Sergent

Soldat

Lieutenant

Soldat

»»
Sergent

Soldat

Le Quilliec, Jean .
Faugeras, Jean
Bourgeois, Victor .
Dhuez, Louis
Raimbaut, Fran§ois
Lenne, Leon
Fombeur, Lucien .
Bourdelle, Antoine
Chateau, Fran£ois .
Pezard, Alexandre
Potier, Gaston
Fourmier, Charles .
Duhayon, Albert .
Demelin, Paul

U.S. Army Reedy, Pepe
Office
Staff Dunstan, Mark E. (British)

Date.

3. 4.18
4.18
4.18
4.18
4.18
4.18
5.18
5.18
6.18
6.18
6.18
6.18
7.18
8.18

7.
10.
11.
18.
30.
18.
20.

2.
24.
27.
28.
29.
14.

22. 7.18
18.10.16

NUMBER OF DAILY PATIENTS

January

February

March .

April

May

June

July

August .

September

October

November

December

1915

391
2137
2101
2415

1916
2131
2494
2538
3990
4791
4298
4848
5091
4893
5352
5004
5090

1917
4646
3640
3428
2518
4292
5102
5066
4380
4704
3956
4701
4686

1918
4189
3119
3071
4235
4392
3773
3909
5499
982

NATIONALITIES OF PATIENTS

English

Scottish

Irish

Welsh

Canadian

Australian

New Zealand

French

Tunisian

Moorish

Algerian

Annamite

Swiss

Czech

Russian

Belgian

Italian

American

Portuguese

German

280

APPENDIX

INVENTORY OF WARD EQUIPMENT

Bedsteads.

Mattresses.

Pillows.

Bedside locker, or table.

Large tables for patients to

dine at.

Bed tables for bed patients.
Writing-table, ink, pens, etc.
Blotting pads.
Screens.

Chairs for each bedside.
Easy-chairs.
Lounge-chairs.
Wheel-chairs.
Trollies
Chart -holders.
Thermometers (clinical).
Thermometers (bath).
Large enamelled basins for

patients to wash in.
Bed rests.
Bed -pans.
Commodes.
Urinals.

Urine specimen glasses.
Dressing cart containing : —

1. Small basins.

2. Receiving basins.

3. Irrigating apparatus.

4. Instruments.

5. Needles and cat -gut.

6. Dressing drums.

7. Towels.

8. Oiled Silk.

9. Tourniquet.

10. Tubing.

11. Glass syringes .

12. Hypodermic syringe.

13. Serum syringe,

14. Catheters.

15. Spirit lamp.

16. Adhesive plaster.

17. Safety-pins.

18. Splints.

19. Bottles with all the dif-

ferent antiseptics, etc.

20. Rubber gloves.

21. Dressing coats and aprons

22. Dressing mackintoshes.

23. Lotion pitchers.

24. Soiled dressing pails.

25. Binders and bandages.

26. Bandage scissor.

27. Plaster scissor and knife.
Instrument steriliser.

Basin steriliser

Local anaesthetics.

Gas.

Chloroform.

Ether.

Inhalers.

Water-beds.

Rubber rings.

Hot -water bottles, and covers.

Receiving and bathing blankets
and mackintoshes.

Stomach tube.

Sputum glasses.

Aspirator.

Suction cups.

Cupping glasses.

Enema, tube and funnel.

Intravenous outfit.

Bowel irrigation outfit.

Catheters.

Carrel treatment outfit.

Elastic bandage for Beer's con-
gestion.

Leg and arm baths.

Splints of all kinds.

Extension apparatus with all
the different appendages for
suspending fractured legs and
arms.

APPENDIX

281

Orthopaedic outfit : mechanical
apparatus prepared for the
movement of stiffened joints,
and for the strengthening of
weak muscles.

Crutches.

Walking-sticks.

Stretchers.

Stretcher blankets.

Stretcher pillows and covers.

Test table with all the different
agents for testing urine,
vomit, sputum, etc.

Washstand.

Ewer and basin.

Soap dish.

Nail brushes.

Graduated medicine glass.
,, minim glass.
„ pint measure.

Poison cupboard.

Dish towels.

Bath towels.

Hand towels.

Dressing towels.

Tablecloths.

Washcloths.

Blankets.

Bedspreads.

Sheets.

Draws heets.

Pillow-cases.

Night -shirts.

Pyjamas.

Night socks.

Dressing-gowns.

Slippers.

Day -shirts.

Sumnets.

Drawers.

Body belts.

Day socks.

Hospital suits.

Bags for patients' clothes.

Small bags for each bed for

treasures.
Dishes.
Soup bowls.
Meat plates.
Pudding plates.
Mugs.
Spoons.

Dividing spoons.
Ladles.

Knives and forks.
Salt and pepper dishes.
Bread baskets.
Pitchers (for milk, wine).
Trays.
Large dinner tins for meat,

vegetables and pudding.
Soup pail.
Enamelled bath for washing

dishes.

Floor brushes.
Scrubbing brushes.
Floor polisher.
Shovel.
Dust -bins.

INVENTORY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLIES
TO WARDS

Drugs, etc.: —

Alcohol 95.
Alcohol 50.
Ammonia (AronV
Aristol.
Argyrol.
Balsam of Peru.
Boracic Acid.
Brandy.

Brown Mixture.
Castor Oil.
Carb. Acid (Pure).
Carb. Acid (120).
Cit. of Mag.
Mag. Sulph.
Collodion.
Cresyline.

282

APPENDIX

Drugs, etc. (continued) :—

Elix. Lactopep.

Elix. L.Q.S.

Elix. Terpine and H.

Embrocation.

Ether.

Formol.

Glycerine.

Heusner's Glue.

Hand Lotion.

lodether (5 per cent.).

Liq. Vaseline.

Mouthwash.

Olive Oil.

Peroxide.

Powder for Backs.

Rhu. and Soda Mixt.

Silver Nit. Pencils.

Sirop Hypophosphites.

Sirop of Codeine.

Talc.

Tine, of Iodine.

Tine, of Soap (Crude).

Tine, of Soap (Sur).

Veronal.

Zinc Oxide.

Amyl Nitrite.

Granules, Lozenges, Pills and Tabloids : —

Aspirine.
Caffeine Cit.
Calomel.

Camporae et Opii.
Cathartic Comp.
Chloral.
Morphine.

Hypod. Tabs, and Ampules : —

Apomorphine Hyd.
Atropine Sul.
Cocaine Hyd.
Digitalin.
Ether.

Ointments, etc. : —

Boric.

Mercurial.

Vaseline.

Supplies, etc. : —

Adhesive Plaster.

Air Cushions and Pillows.

Anatomiser.

Bath (Arm).

" Dakin Outfit " :—

Flasks (complete).
Fittings, 1 Way.
»> 2 „

4
Rubber Applicators.

Phenacetin.

Potass. Brom.

Quinine Sul ph.

Salicylicum.

Salol.

Sodii Bicar.

Urotropine.

Glyceryl. Nit.
Huile Camphree.
Morphine Sul.
Strychnine Sul.

Vaseline Ster. Tubes.
Zinc.

„ and Mercurial.

Bath (Leg).
Cupping Cups.
Ethyl Chi. Spray,
Eye Cups.

Bistouries.
Catheters.

Dakin Syringes (large),
(small).

APPENDIX

283

Forceps, Artery.
„ Dissecting.
„ Dressing.
„ Long-Handled Dress

ing.

Funnels.
Glass Irrig. Tips.
„ Connectors L. and S.
„ Y Tubes.
Hot -Water Bottles.
Ice Bags.
Irrigation Cans.

„ fittings for same.
Irrig. High Colon Tubes.

„ " Drip " Outfits.
Lifters.

Measure Glasses (English).
99 „ (French).

Medicine Tumblers.
Needles (Oil).

(Subcut).
Probes.
Probe Needle.

Razors.
Rectal Tubes.
Rubber Applicators.

„ Bandage.

„ Gloves.

„ Tissue.

„ Drainage Tubing.
Scissors (Dressing).

„ (Surgical).
Spatulas.
Spirit Lamp.
Spong Sticks.
Stomach Tubing.
Syringes.

„ (Hypo) Glass.
» „ Metal.

Test-Tubes.
Thermometers, Bath.
Med.
Wall.

Tongue Depressors.
Tourniquet.

WHAT A BED AT THE HOSPITAL COST

Bolster

„ slips
Blankets
Mattress
Bedspreads .
Sheets (two)
Bedstead .
Pillow

cases .

I s. d.

2 9

1 6
13 10
12 6

3 6
8 4

126

2 0
1 6

Total

385

284

APPENDIX

MONEY DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

[//, in the lists of Donors to the Hospital Funds and Supplies, any names
are omitted, this is due to lack of a complete record, and the Adminis-
trator tenders sincere apologies.]

Andrews, Horace E., Esq.
Andrews, Miss C. S.
Aribert, Monsieur.
Asher, C. W., Esq.
Astor, Mrs. A. W.
Astor, Mrs. John.

Bacot, Madame.

Basely, F., Esq.

Baxter, M., Esq.

Berry, W., Esq.

Bisson, Mrs. T.

Blake, Dr. Joseph.

Blake, Mrs. Joseph.

Bousquet, M. le Medecin Major,

Brouse, Miss.

Bury, Lindsay, Esq.

Card, Major.
Carnac, Dr.
Chambers, J. A., Esq.
Cobb, Harold J.
Cobb, W. H., Esq.
Colbrun, Mrs. Alma D.
Congreve, Lady.
Conner, Dr. Lewis A.
Corbett, The Hon. E.
Crane, Dr.

Cumberlege, H., Esq.
Cumberlege, Mrs.
Cunliffe, Miss.

Davies, Miss K. Mary G.
Decker, Mr. and Mrs.
Decker, Mrs. William.
Deering, Charles, Esq.
Denison, The Hon. Mrs.
Dewer, Miss.
Dilee, R. B., Esq.
Duche, Messrs. T. M., & Sons.

Duer, Miss Caroline.

Duthill Ladies' Aid, per Mrs.

Albert Brown.
Duveen, H. J., Esq.
Duveen, Joseph, Esq.

Edwards, Major.
Eyre, Miss D.

Fair, Mrs.

Fair child, Mrs.

Fenwick, H., Esq.

Fenwick, Miss S.

Fernan, J. M., Esq.

Ferrens, The Right Hon. T. R.

Field, D., Esq.

Fletcher, J. D., Esq.

Flynn, The Hon. W.

Fraser, J. M., Esq.

Fuller, S. L., Esq.

Gamache, Monsieur.
Garrett, Miss A.
Grinelle, Miss Mary I.

Halls, William, Esq., jr.
Hamilton, Mrs. Pierson.
Harriman, Mrs.
Harris, Mrs.
Hart, F. D., Esq.
Hearst, Mrs. Millicent.
Heathcote, Mrs. M. F.
Hendrickson, E., Esq.
Hewitt, Miss E.
Holmes, Walter W., Esq.
Holt, Mrs. W. H.
Houdard, M. and Mme. H. and
family.

Irvine, Miss.
Irwin, Miss Stella.

APPENDIX

285

Johnson, Mrs. A. K.
Johnstone, A. E., Esq.
Johnstone, Hon. Lady.
Juliard, M. A. J.

Keller, Lieut. -Colonel William.
Kennedy, Dr. Foster.
King, P. D., Esq.
Kittridge, Mrs. T. G.
Koven, Mrs. Reginald de.

Labauret, Madame.

Le Sueur, Mr.

Le vert on Harris, The Right Hon.

Lidderdale, Mrs.

Lilley, Miss L.

Lindsay, C. M., Esq.

Lyle, Sir J. B.

Lyne, Miss Maud Rowland.

Markle, Mrs. May R.
McCune, Mrs. A. W.
McFadden, Mrs.
Mellor, Mrs.
Mellor, William, Esq.
Merritt, S., Esq.
Metcalfe, G. P., Esq.
Miller, George W., Esq.
Morgan, Mrs. Pierpont.

Neilson, James, Esq.
Newell, G. F., Esq.

Phillips, A. Houstin, Esq.
Phipps, William H.
Pierrepont, Miss A. J.
Pinchot, Amos, Esq.
Pinchot, Gifford, Esq.
Pinchot, Mrs. G.
Pisart, Monsieur.
Plant, Mrs. Morton.
Pont, Mrs. A. de.
Popplewell, B. B., Esq.
Porter, R., Esq.

Rainey, Mrs. B. A.
Reckitt, A. L., Esq.
Recfcitt, Sir James.
Reckitt, Lady.

Reckitt, P. B., Esq.
Reckitt, Harold J., Esq.
Reckitt 's, Messrs. & Sons, Ltd.,

Hull.
Reckitt's, Ltd., Office Staff,

USA

Riggs,V. B., Esq.
Robins, G., Esq.

Salomon, W., Esq.
Salone, H., Esq.
Sampson, Mrs. D.
Sanders, Mrs. George M.
Satterlee, Herbert L., Esq.
Satterlee, Mrs. H.
Scott, Mrs.
Shephard, Mrs.
Smith, Mrs. Carol Harriman.
Stannard, W., Esq.
Stoddard, Louis C., Esq.
Stoddard, Mrs. L. C.

Taylor, M. H., Esq.
Taylor, Mrs.
Terry, Miss Bertha H.
Thaw, Benjamin, Esq.
Thomas, Mrs. Ralph.
Thome, E., Esq.
Thome, W. D., Esq.
Timmins, Miss Nora.
Torrence, Henry, Esq.
Towse, G., Esq.
Tuckerman, Paul, Esq.

Upton, Mrs. R.

Warner, Miss Euphemia J.
Warrand, the Rev. H. K.
Warren, G. A., Esq.
Warren, H. K., Esq.
Weil, Miss Minnie Strauss.
Wilputt, Louis, Esq.
Winestead and Frodingham

estates, tenants of.
Winner, M. C., Esq.
Winslow, Mrs.
Wood, Mrs. A. E.
Wreathall, C. C., Esq.

286

APPENDIX

New York Committee, per Mr. Herbert Satterlee.

Refugees Relief Fund, U.S.A.

Societe des Usines Metallurgiques, per Monsieur A. Bouchain.

Societies of the Ten Allies. (Proceeds of Costume Ball.)

War Relief Clearing House, New York, per Mr. Horace Andrews.

ARTIFICIAL ARMS AND LEGS FUND
(Inaugurated by Dr. and Mrs. Foster Kennedy)

Cameron, Miss.
Hooker, Mrs. Elon.
Johnstone, Hon. Lady.
Lyall, Miss H.
Milne, Mrs.

Mitchell, Miss.
Polhemur, Mrs.
Porter, Miss.
Wedel, Baron de.
Woods, Miss.

GIFTS OF SURGICAL APPLIANCES AND APPARATUS

Blake, Dr. Joseph.
Conner, Dr. Lewis.
Kennedy, Dr. Foster.
Menzies of Menzies, Lady.

X-Ray apparatus from inhabi-
tants of Ris in recognition of
the work of the Out-Patients,
Dept.

GIFTS OF MOTOR-CARS AND AMBULANCES

Bower, Joshua, Esq.
Burdon Muller, Roland, Esq.
Cobb, Harold, Esq.
Fraser, J. M., Esq.

Reckitt, Harold J., Esq.
British Sportsmen's Ambulance

Fund, per Lady Johnstone

and Lord Lonsdale.

GIFTS IN KIND

Blake, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A.
Conner, Dr. Lewis.
Decker, Mrs. William.
Duer, Miss Caroline.
Haseldine, Mrs.

Hoyt, Miss Maud Buckingham.
Johnstone, Hon. Lady.
Kennedy, Dr. Foster.
Lockwood, W., Esq.
Morris, Mrs.
Reckitt, Lady.
Reckitt, Mrs. Harold J.

Neighbours at Ris : —

Benard, Madame A.
Clement, Madame.
Drancy, Monsieur.

Gerard, Monsieur.
Guenepin, Madame.
Hervieu, Monsieur.
Lemoine, Monsieur and Ma-
dame.

Leon, Monsieur.
Marcille, Madame.

Firms :• —

Colman, Messrs.
Chiswick Polish Co., Ltd.
Hartley, Messrs. W. P.
Prescott, Messrs. J. L. & Co.
Reckitt, Messrs., & Sons

(Hull).

Suet Freres, Messieurs.
Wilkin, Messrs., & Sons.

APPENDIX 287

Societies : —

American Red Cross, Paris.

British and Belgian Relief Fund (Women's Branch), New York,

British Red Cross Society.

British War Relief Association, New York.

Compton Red Cross Work Party.

East End Red Cross Society of Pittsburg.

Eli Bates Red Cross Shop.

French Red Cross (Comite Britannique), London.

Hartford Chapter, American Red Cross.

Hove War Supply Depot.

Little Green Red Cross Workroom.

Mayfair War Relief, New York.

Queen Mary's Needlework Guild, Surgical Requisites Association.

Richmond, Virginia.

Shady Side Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg.

Surgical Dressings Committee, New York.

Upper Montclair, New Jersey, Red Cross Society.

War Hospital Supply Depot, Canterbury.

Wellington House, London.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND BALANCE

SHEET

IN making a final statement for Ris Hospital it is convenient
to divide it into three periods. The first was the period of the
hospital's construction and its maintenance for the first year.
For this period Lady Johnstone and Mr. Reckitt were entirely
responsible. Overlapping it and running into the second period,
were three or four months when personal friends of Lady
Johnstone and Mr. Reckitt materially assisted the finances.

The second period begins May 1, 1917, when Mr. Reckitt
and Mr. J. M. Fraser guaranteed £10,000 for the running of
the hospital during the current year. They were not called
upon for this guarantee, thanks to the support of the New
York Committee and the increased subsidy from the French
Government, but both assisted the finances of the hospital, as
the expenses for the year considerably exceeded £10,000.

From May to September 1918 Mrs. Morton Plant continued
her monthly donation and, with the money realised from the
sale of some of the hospital effects, the expenses of this period
were met and a small balance left in hand.

This balance will be used to erect in the Ris cemetery a
permanent memorial to the soldiers who died in the hospital.

290

APPENDIX

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